Snopkov: Belarus and Russia need to ensure technological sovereignty and protection of the natural gas market

June 15, MINSK . Belarus and RUSSIA need to ensure technological sovereignty and protection of the Union State market. This was stated by First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov at the 26th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), BelTA has learned.

"In recent years, a new understanding of cross-country integration in trade and investment has been formed, and the usual forms of simple integration of commodity markets are already becoming obsolete. They are important, but today this is an addition to deepening cooperation in the Union State. Integration processes are filled with new content, based on new levels of technological 14 scientific and technological programs are being implemented in Belarus, they are closely related to the federal programs of Russia.And in this matter, we are sure, it is necessary to raise the bar of expectations and take special control over the implementation of the intergovernmental agreement on scientific, technical and innovative cooperation signed in March this year ", - said Nikolai Snopkov.

The new paradigm of world trade, in which the improvement of technologies is so important, is inextricably linked with investment and digitalization. The First Deputy Prime Minister noted the need to qualitatively change the structure of investment relations between Belarus and Russia in the interests of the common union development in the context of technological sovereignty.

"Technological sovereignty, the preservation and development of the design and technological competencies of our countries are inextricably linked with the topic of protecting the domestic market. The external contour makes one become more active and remember about growing competition, at the moment already from the East. Industrial associations and major manufacturers need to jointly analyze the situation and think about the need to launch new systemic measures to protect the domestic market," said Nikolai Snopkov.

One of the areas of market protection is the pooling of competencies. "There is an obvious need to enter into joint sectoral medium-term programs, such as those adopted at the moment in microelectronics or in the field of space. But these are far from all the competencies that we need to combine, including in the context of creating joint ventures. The development of such programs in the field of machine tool building. The corresponding agreement has been prepared by our ministries of industry and, we hope, will be signed in the near future," the First Deputy Prime Minister informed.

He also touched upon the development of trade. "Last year, our turnover with Russia reached a record high. And we still have potential for growth - both through the diversification of supplies and through the increase in exports of classic commodity items such as MEAT, MILK, fish , rapeseed oil , products from metal, railway axles and wheels, materials from wood," Nikolai Snopkov noted.

"We highly appreciate the level of trust between our countries, the efforts that both sides are making to make the economies of our states even more stable and self-sufficient. In recent years, we have demonstrated to the whole world an unprecedented level of consolidation, mutual support and the ability to withstand any external challenges," - summed up the first vice-premier.