OREANDA-NEWS. April 22, 2009. Belarusian and Russian producers should enjoy equal terms on the Union State market, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky told media during his working trip to Bykhov, reported the Official website government.by.

In his words, the government has information that the Russian Federation has taken several decisions impeding the import of commodities to the Russian market. First of all, the decisions primarily affect machines and equipment, including those of Belarusian origin. Regions of Russia now mainly buy Russia-made products.

It is the right thing to do in view of the financial crisis, but at the same time Belarus “has not taken any protection measures and is fully open to all Russian goods,” stated Sergei Sidorsky.

According to the Premier, in order to influence the situation, last week the Belarusian government signed several documents. Thanks to the President’s support there is progress in this area. In particular, Belarusians plan to largely expand the commodity distribution network in Russia soon. Relevant negotiations have been held with the administration of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. For instance, Saint Petersburg will provide land to Belarus under the most preferential terms. The land will be used to build 50 convenience stores where the entire range of Belarusian products will be represented.

“We are doing our best to increase the export of Belarusian products, primarily through high quality and cost reduction,” stressed Sergei Sidorsky.

A session of the Council of Ministers of the Belarus-Russia Union State is expected to be held in Minsk on May 28, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky told reporters. According to the Prime Minister, one of the key issues on the agenda will be the singing of a memorandum or a statement on the equal access of products of Belarusian and Russian manufacturers.

This will be a supplementary document to the package of documents which were developed in January-February this year and approved by the Supreme State Council. “This will create equal conditions for Belarusian and Russian producers and equal access to the banking and consumer markets. We hope that there will be no administrative pressure in terms of export/import,” Sergei Sidorsky said.