MINSK, 1 April (BelTA) – Minsk Oblast has signed over 40 agreements on cooperation with the Russian regions, BelTA learnt from the Economy Committee of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee. The signed agreements, protocols and plans cover cooperation in the social, economic, sci-tech and cultural sectors. Minsk Oblast conducts foreign-trade operations with 76 regions of the Russian Federation. Among the priority partners is Moscow (in 2010 trade turnover equaled $414.7 million, or 17% of the total trade with Russia), Moscow Oblast ($324.6 million, or 13.3%), Kemerovo Oblast ($268 million, or 11%), St. Petersburg ($194.1 million, or 8%), Smolensk Oblast ($125.8 million, or 5.2%). On the whole, in 2010 the foreign trade of Minsk Oblast with Russia exceeded $2.435 billion, up 21.6% from 2009. The export totaled nearly $1.61 billion (up 72.8%), the import - $825.7 million (down 22.9%). Belarus posted trade surplus of $783.9 million (in 2009 trade deficit made up $140 million). Major exports to Russia were trucks ($390.3 million, up 2.5 times from 2009), cheese and curd ($119.7 million, up 68.2%), sugar and chemically pure saccharose ($75 million, up 63.6%), component parts for trucks and tractors ($70.3 million, up 46.3%), fresh and chilled beef ($62.3 million, up 46.6%), electrical equipment ($60.2 million, up 64.4%), milk and condensed cream ($60 million, up 2.7 times), etc. Major imports were engines and electric generators ($43.4 million, up 2.3 times), flat-rolled products ($42.3 million, up 2.2 times), fertilizers ($33 million, up 70.6%), insulated wire ($26.2 million, up 95%), aluminum ($ 25.7 million, up 69.1%), etc. In 2010, the companies of Minsk Oblast took part in more than 120 exhibitions in Russia. The Economy Committee noted that the Russian Federation is the principal trade partner of Minsk Oblast. Its share accounted for 35.1% of total exports, and 29% of total imports. БЕЛТА
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