Belarus, Tatarstan to intensify cooperation in petrochemical industry

Belarus and Tatarstan are determined to expand cooperation in the petrochemical industry, BelTA learned from the press service of Belneftekhim Concern following a working visit of the government delegation of Tatarstan to Belarus.

Belneftekhim Concern hosted talks on the state and prospects of the bilateral cooperation in the petrochemical industry. The press service pointed to the long-standing ties between Belarusian and Tatarstan companies that provide each other with chemical raw materials. “The participants of the talks voiced mutual interest in deepening cooperation between the petrochemical complexes of Belarus and Tatarstan,” the press service said. A corresponding protocol was signed by Deputy Chairman of Belneftekhim Concern Vitaly Pavlov and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan Damir Safiullin, the co-chairmen of the Belarus-Tatarstan working group to promote joint supplies of oil, gas and chemical products.

Today the major partners of Belarusian petrochemical companies in Tatarstan are Nizhnekamskneftekhim, Tatneft and Kazanorgsintez. Belarus’ major imports from Tatarstan are oil and petrochemical raw materials (synthetic rubber, polypropylene, monoethylene glycol, acetone and propane). Belarus exports cord fabric, polyethylene terephthalate, fiberglass and other products to Tatarstan.

Upon the instruction of the Belarusian government Belneftekhim Concern is in charge of promoting Belarus-Tatarstan cooperation. An action plan for 2015-2016 was signed on 13 November in addition to the bilateral intergovernmental cooperation agreement in trade, economy, science, technology and culture passed in 2004.

The document provides for closer cooperation in agribusiness, forestry, manufacturing, construction, transport, petrochemical industry, exhibitions and fairs, marketing, trade, development of the commodity distribution network, as well as in healthcare, education, science, culture, art, sport and tourism.

The government delegation of the Republic of Tatarstan was on a working visit to Belarus on 11-13 November. The delegation was led by Deputy Premier- Minister of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan Ravil Zaripov. The delegation included representatives of ministries and government agencies, heads of industrial and trading companies. The delegation held talks at several Belarusian ministries and visited a number of Belarusian industrial companies, research centers, educational institutions and healthcare facilities.