OREANDA-NEWS. January 21, 2009. The Gomel oblast and the Republic of Tatarstan (Russia) signed a protocol on cooperation in the trade, economic, sci-tech and cultural areas on January 21. The document was signed by Chairman of the Gomel oblast executive committee Alexander Yakobson and Prime Minister of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov.

Alexander Yakobson told reporters that the Gomel oblast pays great attention to cooperation expansion with Tatarstan. “Despite the recent growth in trade with the Republic of Tatarstan by one third a year, the total volume of the trade turnover, nearly USD 50 million, is not satisfactory,” he said. The two sides are setting forth a task to considerably intensify the implementation of the joint industrial projects as well as to develop cooperation in other areas such as culture, public relations, the Chairman of the Gomel oblast executive committee said.

On January 21, an agreement on cooperation was signed between the Gomel office of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tatarstan.