MINSK -- Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka told the visiting head of Russia’s southern Chechnya region, Ramzan Kadyrov, that his country is ready for economic and industrial cooperation.
At the talks in Minsk on September 25, Lukashenka said that Minsk's cooperation with "Russia's multiethnic regions had saved Belarusian-Russian ties when there were misunderstandings with the center," referring to an economic and trade standoff between Minsk and Moscow between 2014 and 2016.
"We would like to work...with you across the Caucasus in terms of economic cooperation. We are ready to create joint ventures, produce joint high-tech outputs and trade in your region not only in the south but also in the north," Lukashenka said.
Lukashenka stressed that Belarus could start production of automobiles and sewage products in Chechnya, as well as other parts of the North Caucasus. And he said the Belarusnafta oil company could also assist Chechnya in oil production and refining.
Kadyrov told journalists after the talks that the sides had agreed to develop trade and economic ties "in concrete directions."
"If together with Belarus we implement good pilot industrial projects in Chechnya, that will open perspective for the whole North Caucasus region," Kadyrov said.
