Gomel Oblast, Russia’s Sakha Republic to ink cooperation agreement
GOMEL, 18 October (BelTA) – An agreement on cooperation between Gomel Oblast, Belarus and the Sakha Republic (aka Yakutia), Russia will be signed in the Rumyantsevs-Paskevichs Palace, Gomel on 18 October. The document will be inked by Chairman of the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee Mr Vladimir Dvornik and Vice President of the Sakha Republic Mr Dmitry Glushko, the press service of the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee told BelTA.
The agreement provides for promoting mutual contacts in various areas, primarily, economy. Despite the considerable geographical distance between the two regions Gomel Oblast and the Sakha Republic maintain long-term manufacturing cooperation ties in the diamond industry. Yakutia accounts for about 25% of the extracted diamonds while Gomel is home to one of the CIS largest diamond processing enterprise – OAO Gomel PO Kristall.
At present the world’s largest diamond manufacturer OAO Alrosa supplies raw materials to the Gomel-based enterprise. The company is headquartered in the city of Mirny, Yakutia. The annual proceeds of Alrosa from selling the main products exceed $4 billion.
Gomel Oblast has signed cooperation agreements with 17 regions of Russia.
