«Cultural institutions, together with their Vitebsk colleagues, are implementing various events. We are actively working in the fields of youth policy and healthcare. It is gratifying that Vitebsk Oblast responds so warmly to our initiatives. We hold meetings at the level of institution heads. For instance, St. Petersburg State University has an agreement with Vitebsk Oblast, and student exchanges are taking place with the Masherov Vitebsk State University,» Head of the Petrodvortsovy District Administration of St. Petersburg Alexander Yakushev said.
Plans are underway to establish cooperation with the library system and the Vitebsk Oblast Museum of Local History. The guests will also visit the Marc Chagall Art Center, the Ilya Repin Museum-Estate Zdravnevo, and the historic town of Polotsk.
«This is our second time visiting, and now we want to present our major project. Its core idea is that well-known and lesser-known authors visit children at the library, read their own works and those of others, and talk about themselves, while we photograph them to create a photo exhibition. In the future, we plan joint projects with the Vitebsk Oblast Museum of Local History. Right now, the Lomonosov Local History Museum is bringing lists of Vitebsk Oblast natives who defended the Oranienbaum Bridgehead,» head of the culture department of St. Petersburg’s Petrodvortsovy District Administration Yelena Maslova said.
Industrial cooperation was also discussed at the meeting. «Trade with St. Petersburg is growing: this year it has increased nearly 1.5 times. First and foremost, these are food supplies, including those for the Belarusian Village trading house. Around 15 enterprises from Vitebsk Oblast supply their products there. Industrial companies such as Polimerkonstruktsiya and Energokomplekt are working actively in cooperation with St. Petersburg factories. We plan to develop the services and tourism sectors, and strengthen cultural interaction. We actively utilize the capabilities of the St. Petersburg port and plan to increase shipments through it, including woodworking products and goods that we export to China,» First Deputy Chairwoman of the Economy Committee of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee Yelena Borzdyko said.
Alexander Yakushev added that a successful example of joint industrial work is the Kirovets brand tractors produced by the St. Petersburg plant, for which key spare parts are supplied by Belarusian manufacturers. «This is important because we are moving away from imported components and creating a local product that is in high demand in both Russia and Belarus. In the near future, we plan to ramp up supplies and increase the number of manufactured machinery,» he emphasized.
