OREANDA-NEWS. December 19, 2012. Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Saint Petersburg Piotr Marciniak arrived in Karelia on a three-day visit. First Deputy Head of the Republic of Karelia for Economic Policy Oleg Gromov met with the eminent guest. Senior Associate on Institutional Affairs of the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Saint Petersburg Joanna Marciniak, Deputy Head of the Republic of Karelia and Minister of Economic Development Valentin Chmil, acting representative of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Petrozavodsk Andrey Silchenko also took part in the meeting. The key topic of the talks was prospects of extension of cooperation between Poland and Karelia.

According to Oleg Gromov, the republic supports old-established contacts with Poland. About 2,000 Poles are residents of Karelia, and now the parties enjoy well-developed cultural cooperation: Days of Culture of Poland take place in the republic, Polish actors go on tour to our republic, competitions of young pianists, various exhibitions, festivals of Polish cinema are organized, youth exchange is developing. The next stage should be development of economic cooperation.

– The republic pays a lot of attention to development of international relations, including with Poland. Now the Government of Karelia pursues open policy directed on perfection of cooperation in all spheres of life, on creation of favorable conditions for investors, mobilization of investments in the region. We are ready to consider all initiatives and offers on activization of economic contacts with Poland, and we hope for development of thorough mutually advantageous communications, – Oleg Gromov said.

Piotr Marciniak has pointed out that the Polish party is getting acquainted with Karelia which can become an interesting partner to the country.

Establishing of partnership between representatives of small and medium-sized business of Poland and Karelia could be one of the spheres for cooperation. As Oleg Gromov has mentioned, Poland's national economy is based on small and medium-sized business, and to expand economic cooperation it is necessary to find new trade partners in Russia as a whole, and in Karelia in particular. In turn, Poland's significant experience concerning support and development of small and medium-sized business entities will be interesting and useful to our republic. Cooperation in this sphere will make it possible to establish contacts with business circles of Poland and offer the entrepreneurs the opportunity to start business in our republic.

According to Oleg Gromov, Karelia may also be an exporter, therefore, a package of documents on production made in the republic which may be of interest and need to the country will be formed for the Polish party.

– We shall promote activization of economic contacts between Karelia and Poland, – Piotr Marciniak and Oleg Gromov have emphasized.

During the meeting establishing of sister-city relations between Polish provinces and Karelia was discussed, too. Both parties are also interested in it.

During the visit to our republic Piotr Marciniak will have a number of official meetings with ministers of the republic, will attend the demo lesson of Polish language in Petrozavodsk State University. Besides, Piotr Marciniak will take part in cultural events: he will attend the presentation of the book of Polish writer Mariusz Wilk who lives in Karelia, and will come to the opening of the International festival of young pianists World and Music. Russia and Poland.