/ / News
27.09.2012

Belarus may advance to Caspian Sea region via Astrakhan Oblast

MINSK, 27 September (BelTA) – Belarus could use Astrakhan Oblast, Russia to advance into the Caspian Sea region, Astrakhan Oblast Governor Alexander Zhilkin told President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the meeting in Minsk on 27 September.

Alexander Zhilkin remarked that Astrakhan Oblast enjoys good relations with the countries in the Caspian Sea area. “We border on Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan. At present considerable efforts are poured into the development of economic projects in the area, industrialization of Caspian Sea area shores is in progress. The potential that Astrakhan Oblast has in the economic, industrial, and agricultural areas fits all the projects, which are going on in the area, rather well,” said the Astrakhan Oblast Governor.

He stressed that many Belarusian products are in demand in all the Caspian Sea area countries. Belarus-made agricultural machines account for 76% of the machines used in the Oblast. The Governor believes that the figure testifies to the quality of Belarusian products.

Alexander Zhilkin remarked that for Astrakhan Oblast the cooperation avenues suggested by the Belarusian side look interesting. The number includes the Pure Water program, animal husbandry and other areas.

Alexander Lukashenko told the Astrakhan Oblast Governor that Belarusian companies could take part in the extraction of hydrocarbon resources in the oblast. In turn, Alexander Zhilkin remarked that Astrakhan Oblast has huge deposits of hydrocarbon raw materials, oil and gas alike, and there are many strategic deposits.