MINSK, October 2 – Novosti. Mikhail Myasnikovich, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) , advocated the development of cooperation between the EAEU and the SCO countries, in particular, in the transport and logistics sector, and stated that it would be expedient for the Union countries to involve other friendly countries in the forthcoming customs transit agreement.
“We have signed documents (on cooperation – ed.) with the SCO Secretariat. And we see very great prospects. I will not tell now what powerful joint projects we see. I will say one thing: a translogistics megaproject. Our countries are a huge territory, huge transit opportunities that should be used,” Myasnikovich said in an interview with the Belarus 1 TV channel shown on Sunday.
He noted that this project has several components. “We have already approved eight transport corridors that are connected with the international North-South and West-East corridors and are harmonized with the One Belt, One Road initiative,” the head of the EEC Board explained.
He called the digitalization of these corridors the second component of the work within the framework of a large-scale transport project. Myasnikovich explained that the implementation of the task will allow carriers to receive operational information about the load, road conditions, the location of gas stations, recreation points, as well as receive prompt data on possible emergencies.
“The third component is the agreement that we are preparing on customs transit. I suggested to my colleagues, and they agree that this agreement should not only be for five states (EAEU – ed.), but that it be “five plus”. That is so that third countries can also join the agreement on customs transit, so that we do not close ourselves within national borders, but work with friendly countries, including China , where there are large flows (of transport – ed.), especially (in the direction) China-Europe and back,” Myasnikovich said.
In addition, he stated that the EAEU has reserves to minimize the impact of Western sanctions.
“We clearly understand that the unfriendly steps of the united West towards Russia and Belarus will not end tomorrow, it will be for a long time. We must also provide for further development, how to work in these conditions. There are many, in my opinion, reserves that we must First of all, this concerns joint investment activities,” Myasnikovich said.
He named microelectronics as one of the areas for pooling investment efforts. “Belarus and Russia have the relevant competencies. It is possible to unite and create powerful clusters for the development of microelectronics,” Myasnikovich stressed.
The second direction, according to him, is the production of medicines. “Despite the fact that the market has not become bare as a result of sanctions and our pharmaceutical companies feel confident, we believe that it is possible to build new factories for the production of drugs that will be both import-substituting and exportable. We look at things realistically: everything cannot be replaced , there is no need to strive for this, but key things, such as publicly available medicines, which are now vulnerable due to sanctions, could be produced,” the head of the board said.
Myasnikovich also spoke in favor of uniting the efforts of the EAEU countries in the field of aircraft manufacturing. “We have worked out the relevant proposals … what components our countries can make. I think that the aircraft industry is a high-tech industry that will be attractive to all countries (EAEU – ed.),” he said. Myasnikovich added that the project of the Eurasian electric bus is currently being discussed, which will help to combine the competencies of different countries of the Union.
Mikhail Myasnikovich said that the EAEU countries need not only to develop settlements in national currencies, but also pricing in them.
“It is also necessary to conduct pricing in national currencies. (National – ed.) The currency should be not only a means of payment, but also a measure of value. In a situation where prices are formed in national currencies, the volatility of the exchange rates of national currencies will not cause such damage” , Myasnikovich said in an interview with the Belarus 1 TV channel, answering a question about the advisability of a complete transition in settlements between the countries of the union from the dollar to national currencies.
He noted that the position of the EEC was heard by the member countries of the EAEU. “I believe that we will come to certain agreements that will also provide for pricing in national currencies,” Myasnikovich continued.
He also noted the interaction between Belarus and Russia as a positive example in this area. Myasnikovich explained that other states, using their example, can see for themselves the benefits of such decisions.
