The advancement of economic cooperation between Mogilev Oblast and Austria was discussed as Mogilev Oblast Governor Leonid Zayats met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austria to Belarus Aloisia Worgetter on 21 May.
The sides mentioned the emerging positive dynamics in foreign trade and the need to expand mutually beneficial relations. They will contribute to the development of territories and to stronger friendship between the two nations.
According to Leonid Zayats, eight companies with Austrian capital operate in the region. Four of them are located in the free economic zone Mogilev. FEZ Mogilev resident companies with Austrian capital alone have invested over €400 million in projects, with their total export at $205 million in 2018. The governor said: “Austrian companies in the region are successful and grow rapidly. The favorable conditions Mogilev Oblast has enabled for investors help with it. We are ready to advance and expand our cooperation. We have a number of proposals for representatives of the Austrian private sector on implementing joint projects using Belarusian raw materials. In particular, we are talking about timber processing, the establishment of enterprises to make furniture fittings and metal structures, production and processing of beef.”
The head of the Mogilev Oblast administration asked the diplomat for assistance with encouraging as many Austrian businessmen as possible to participate in the international investment forum Mill of Success and discuss and work on projects and prospects of investment cooperation. The forum is scheduled to take place in Mogilev on 28-29 June.
In turn, Aloisia Worgetter noted growing interest in Belarus not only on the part of the private sector, but tourists as well. She assured she would do her best to provide information to the Austrian private sector about opportunities in Mogilev Oblast. “I am convinced that many of the mentioned initiatives will be of interest for the Austrian private sector and even more joint projects are going to be implemented in the oblast. Not only in the sphere of economy but other areas,” she stressed.
The diplomat suggested arranging a business meeting of representatives of the private sectors of Mogilev Oblast and Austria next year. Topics of mutual interest will have to be reviewed in advance. Aloisia Worgetter also mentioned the need to advance mutual relations in the sphere of culture and humanitarian relations. She visited SOS-Children’s Village Mogilev today. An idea was born to invite talented pupils to Austria so that they could perform the national anthems of the two countries on Austrian National Day. The diplomat is also expected to visit a gala concert of the national spiritual music festival Magutny Bozha (God Almighty). On 22 May she intends to get familiar with the work of IOOO Kronospan OSB, which is a company with Austrian investments residing in the free economic zone Mogilev.
