Belarus–Russia Partnership Ties and Military Technical Cooperation Discussed in Minsk

From 11 to 12 March 2015, a Russian delegation led by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Alexander Potapov visited Minsk. The delegation included representatives of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation and defence industry corporations and organisations. The Russian delegation visited a number of Goscomvoyenprom’s companies.

On 12 March, Minsk hosted a meeting between Chairman of Goscomvoyenprom Sergei Gurulyov, Belarusian Industry Minister Vitaly Vovk and Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Alexander Potapov, during which the participants covered a wide range of issues related to the development of partnership relations and military technical cooperation between Belarus and Russia.

With the aim to facilitate the development and manufacture of high-tech products, and production modernisation, the parties confirmed their readiness to further promote partnership between Belarusian and Russian organisations on bilateral cooperation within the Union State, discussed the issues related to ensuring favourable conditions for economic, industrial, as well as scientific and production cooperation between Belarusian and Russian organisations, in particular reducing the commercial risks in contracts between Belarusian and Russian defence companies.

In addition, the parties supported the elaboration of a draft concept of the Union State’s Optics SG sci-tech programme on the development of advanced automated equipment and processing technologies for optical components in civil and special optomechanical and optronic devices for 2016–2019.

At the end of the meeting, Goscomvoyenprom Chairman Sergei Gurulyov, Belarusian Industry Minister Vitaly Vovk and Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Alexander Potapov signed the minutes of the meeting.