27.04.2017
The Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee hosted the negotiations with the participation of Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico. Plans to attract Slovakian investors to carry out two major investment projects in Vitebsk Oblast were high on the agenda of the negotiations.

The Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee hosted the negotiations with the participation of Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico. Plans to attract Slovakian investors to carry out two major investment projects in Vitebsk Oblast were high on the agenda of the negotiations.

A Slovakian delegation came to Vitebsk to discuss the matters of economic cooperation. The delegation comprised 15 members, including Slovakian Economy Minister Peter Ziga, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Anton Stredak, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Slovakia to Belarus Joseph Migash, and Slovakian entrepreneurs. Consideration was given to the construction of the Beshenkovichi hydropower plant on the Zapadnaya Dvina River with the participation of Slovakian investors. The plant will make part of the cascade of hydropower plants. The parties also discussed the construction of an incineration plant. The Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee noted that the first project is capital-intensive and estimated at $130-140 million. In 2017 a group of Slovakian specialists paid two visits to the construction site and met with representatives of Belarus' Energy Ministry and the electrical company Vitebskenergo to discuss the ways to carry out the project.

The parties pointed out that the economic relations between Slovakia and Vitebsk Oblast gained momentum in 2015. The cooperation brought first results when Slovakian investors were attracted to co-create the pharmaceutical company Nativita. The plant that produces drugs for the treatment of malignant tumors, a number of severe autoimmune and infectious diseases has already been put into operation but the project implementation is still underway. Further participation of foreign investors in the project was also a point of discussion.

The parties considered other initiatives of Vitebsk Oblast in wastewater treatment, appliance recycling, and a project to build a beef cattle farm in Lepel District.

Source: BelTA