MINSK, 2 July (BelTA) – The Minsk oblast and the State of Brandenburg (Germany) are interested in cooperation in the area of alternative power engineering. The idea was discussed as representatives of Minsk City Hall met with a delegation of the State of Brandenburg in Minsk on 2 July. Minsk Oblast Governor Leonid Krupets remarked that one of Belarus’ first wind mills has been built in the Myadel region. There are other areas with good wind energy opportunities. “The sphere is interesting for us,” he remarked. In turn, Gerd Harms, State Secretary of the Brandenburg State government, Brandenburg State Plenipotentiary in the Federation and Commissioner for European Cooperation, said that Germany widely uses alternative energy sources, including wind, sun and biomass energy. Renewable energy sources account for 40% of the energy used. “We could share experience in this area and could implement joint projects,” remarked Gerd Harms. According to the German official, agriculture, experience sharing between scientific research institutes, joint educational programmes and rural tourism can be promising avenues of cooperation, too. Minsk Oblast Governor Leonid Krupets remarked that the Minsk oblast and the State of Brandenburg have common tendencies of economic development and cooperation prospects. Brandenburg’s experience in transport and logistics represents interest because the Minsk oblast is the central one in Belarus. The position creates prerequisites for developing the transport and logistics infrastructure. “Along with sharing experience between two metropolitan areas the establishment of partnering ties would contribute to the resolution of common problems and the implementation of common projects. Those are investment cooperation, establishment of joint ventures, use of common standards for transport and logistics services, development of motorway service,” remarked Leonid Krupets. Germany is one of key trade partners of the Minsk oblast. In January-April 2009 the bilateral trade totalled $100 million, with the deficit as large as $49.7 million. Germany accounts for 3% of the Minsk oblast export and 10% of the oblast’s import. The exports are devices and instruments used in medicine, surgery, dentistry, and furniture. The imports are mainly cars ($9.2 million), machines and special-purpose mechanical devices ($6 million) and seeds ($3.6 million). БЕЛТА
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