Platoshkin: Belarus should become the industrial base of the entire post-Soviet space

September 18, Minsk . Belarus should become the industrial base of the entire post-Soviet space, said Doctor of Historical Sciences Nikolai Platoshkin in the project “In the Topic” on the BELTA YouTube channel.

According to him, new states should join the EAEU . “Iran, suppose the United Arab Emirates, India,” said Nikolai Platoshkin. “That’s why this transport corridor from India should go? Look how they want: India - United States - Saudi Arabia - Israel - Mediterranean Sea. Why does n’t it can go: India - Iran (the sea route is much shorter than from India to Saudi Arabia) - along the Caspian - Russian Federation and further Belarus - Europe. Why can’t it go like this? Completely. It is absolutely quite competitive in terms of costs and length. Why The Belarusians and I cannot develop a competitive Northern Sea Route, which, thanks to climate warming, is becoming more and more ice-free.”

China is very interested in this, the expert noted. “But first, you and I should be interested in this. Belarus should be our exclusive partner here, and everyone else will catch up. Mongolia is the same. And again I’m offended that the Americans are getting involved there, can you imagine where Mongolia is and where the USA is? In general, a country of very rich people opportunities, and for Belarus as well. This could be our common, say, meat paradise. If Belarus is number one in milk, and in Europe, among other things, it is one of the top five world exporters. If we establish massive meat processing in that Mongolia - you and I simply won’t have to think about anything in terms of meat and meat products. And they are ready for this,” he emphasized. “What was the Soviet Union doing? We supplied them with vaccines against cattle diseases. This is actually a serious thing. You know, millions of pigs are sometimes killed due to African swine fever. This is all we did, they remember it. We have some experience. Leather, let's say. Why can’t you and I become trendsetters in shoe production? We totally can. It seems to me that Belarus and I need to develop our integration association, without quarreling with anyone, but first of all, pursuing our own interests. We are fully capable of this."

“Belarus must become the industrial base of the entire post-Soviet space, developing ours as well. You are now ahead of us in the production of tractors, probably tens of times. Let’s say, we give Belarus the necessary raw materials, semi-finished products. Belarus is engaged in processing the products of our industry, and thus we are beginning to enter other markets: both Mongolian and Iranian. We can do this in cooperation, of course, with them. That is, repeat the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance first on such a scale of the former Soviet Union. I am more than confident that they will catch up people for sure,” added Nikolai Platoshkin.