Achievements and challenges of the Union State

Minsk has hosted a seminar entitled “Scientific-technical and industrial integration: standards and gauges of the Union State” today, dedicated to problems of cooperation between Russia and Belarus within the framework of Eurasian integration projects. Mariya Sidelnikova, the editor-in-chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, emphasized that the transport, agricultural, technical and intellectual potential of Belarus was important for Russia, Kazakhstan and Armenia.

Sidelnikova reminded that Belarus had been the final link in the industrial chain of the Soviet Union. It had been concluding many technological processes. She believes that technological ties with the country are being revived today.Alexey Kubrin, deputy state secretary of the Union State, expressed confidence that Russia will regain its status as an industrial state with the help of Belarus. In his words, the Union State has realized 40 large projects. He reminded that the main standardization program had ended in 2012. The official urged Russia and Belarus to intensify integration. He said that high-tech staff was an especially important matter. Moreover, Kubrin proposed formation of a zone similar to the Schengen Area of the EU. He expressed interest in expanding the Customs Union.
Valery Fishman, the head of the main directorate for innovative and investment activities of the Belarusian Ministry for Industry, said that Belarus had prioritized high technologies in industry, science, laser and nano technologies. In his words, car and tractor projects were some of the main sectors Belarus wanted to boost on the market. Fishman added that the concept of nanotech development had been adopted by the government in 2013. It commercializes certain technologies. New types of industry are developing in Belarus, such as metallurgy. The official said that 76% of high-endurance fastenings of Belarus were exported. He highlighted the development of gas engines. Russia’s Gazpromtrans and the Kazan administration have ordered buses with such engines. A tractor with over 300 horse power and a combine harvester with Amur tracks are examples of integration projects, Fishman stated.
Artem Pylin, a scientist of the Center for Post-Soviet Studies of the RAS Institute of Economy, said that the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty will come into force on January 1, 2015, and the countries will need to carry out joint modernization. He called Belarus, Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan the core of modernization in post-Soviet space.
Pylin said that Russia had invested $41.6 billion in CIS countries, most of the sum in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus. He considers the volume insufficient in the context of Russia’s falling exports of machinery and its reorientation towards the technologies of the EU, China and the U.S. The scientist assures that Eurasian countries need creative integration and development of cooperation with the Central Asian Region.

 

Minsk has hosted a seminar entitled “Science-technical and industrial integration: standards and gauges of Union State” today, dedicated to problems of cooperation between Russia and Belarus within the framework of Eurasian integration projects. Mariya Sidelnikova, the editor-in-chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, emphasized that transit, agricultural, technical and intellectual potential of Belarus was important for Russia, Kazakhstan and Armenia.Sidelnikova reminded that Belarus had been the final link in the industrial chain of the Soviet Union. It had been concluding many technological processes. She believes that technological ties with the country are being revived today.Alexey Kubrin, deputy state secretary of the Union State, expressed confidence that Russia will regain its status of an industrial state with the help of Belarus. In his words, the Union State has realized 40 large projects. He reminded that the main standardization program had ended in 2012. The official urged Russia and Belarus to intensify integration. He said that high-tech staff was an especially important matter. Moreover, Kubrin proposed formation of a zone similar to Schengen Area of the EU. He expressed interest in expanding the Customs Union.Valery Fishman, the head of the main directorate for innovative and investment activities of the Belarusian Ministry for Industry, said that Belarus had prioritized high technologies in industry, science, laser and nano technologies. In his words, car and tractor projects were some of the main sectors Belarus wanted to boost on the market. Fishman added that the concept of nanotech development had been adopted by the government in 2013. It commercializes certain technologies. New types of industry are developing in Belarus, such as metallurgy. The official said that 76% of high-endurance fastenings of Belarus were exported. He highlighted development of gas engines. Russia’s Gazpromtrans and Kazan administration ordered buses with such engines. A tractor with over 300 horse power and a combine harvester with Amur tracks are examples of integration projects, as stated by Fishman.Artem Pylin, a scientist of the Center for Post-Soviet Studies of the RAS Institute of Economy, said that the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty will come into force on January 1, 2015, and countries will need to carry out joint modernization. He called Belarus, Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan the core of modernization on the post-Soviet space.Pylin said that Russia had invested $41.6 billion in CIS countries, most of the sum in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus. He considers the volume insufficient in the context of Russia’s dropping exports of machinery and reorientation towards technologies of the EU, China and the U.S. The scientist assures that Eurasian countries need creative integration, development of cooperation with the Central Asian Reg