Negotiations on collaboration in the areas of municipal services, pharmaceutics, construction of power facilities, tourism and culture were held as part of the visit of the St. Petersburg delegation led by the Governor Georgy Poltavchenko to the Republic of Srpska on 13-15 September 2018.
During the visit, the Governor of St. Petersburg G.S. Poltavchenko met with the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik and politicians, business and public representatives of the Republic of Srpska. He also visited Banja Luka Gymnasium with enhanced education of Russian and the National and University Library of the Republic of Srpska. The institutions received computer equipment to be installed in an IT room and educational literature in Russian as a gift from St. Petersburg.
Further, during the visit a Cooperation Agreement was signed between St. Petersburg Company Rakurs-Engineering and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining of the Republic of Srpska that consolidated the agreements for the St. Petersburg Party to complete the construction of 4 hydropower stations of the power plants chain on the Vrbas River.
As noted by the Governor G.S. Poltavchenko, the main objective of the visit is to support the existing agreements by tangible results.
The scope of the issues under discussion raised at the meetings between the Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko and the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik and the politicians, business and public representatives of the Republic of Srpska revealed deep connections between the Parties.
Pharmaceutics was identified as a perspective direction. In particular, St. Petersburg is prepared to supply innovative and original medicinal products to the market of the Republic of Srpska, including those to address oncological diseases.
In addition, the city has great competences in the area of municipal services. Particularly, Vodokanal of St. Petersburg that is known as one of the leading enterprises in its sector both in Russia and Europe is willing to cooperate with the Republic of Srpska.
Other best practices that could be of interest for the partners include Smart City System, application of electronic sick notes ensuring better quality of public health monitoring, and others.
St. Petersburg was noted in the area of healthcare for its assistance in treatment of children from the Republic of Srpska and in general for the opportunities for health tourism.
The Governor of St. Petersburg also outlined the positive movement in organizing a supply of green products from the Republic of Srpska to Russia, which is essential to both Parties.
Apart from that, as G.S. Poltavchenko said, according to the Road Map it is planned to open a representation office of the Republic of Srpska in St. Petersburg that will include a presentation room for companies from the Republic of Srpska and their partners from the Russian Federation to demonstrate their opportunities.
The experience of St. Petersburg Geoscan Company was mentioned among successful examples of cooperation. The Geoscan Company implemented a pilot project of creating ortophotomap of the Banja Luka city that is intended to be used for municipal and state land supervision, land monitoring and performing cadastral works. Along with Banja Luka, other cities of the Republic of Srpska expressed their interest in similar projects.
Traditionally strong ties between St. Petersburg and the Republic of Srpska are being developed in the humanitarian and cultural areas. Starting from 2014, the President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik participates each year in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and he also attends St. Petersburg and the Slavic World International Congress that is held in the Northern capital in order to strengthen interregional cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe and the Balkan Peninsula. Among new projects, collaboration among jazz bands was pointed out. In particular, a performance by a jazz quartet from the Republic of Srpska at the St. Petersburg PertoJazz Festival was deemed a successful experience, followed by the decision to exchange jazz bands on a regular basis.
The speech by the Governor was welcomed enthusiastically by the participants of the meeting – politicians, business and public representatives of the Republic of Srpska. Many people listened to him without the need for interpretation.
Upon the completion of speeches made by G.S. Poltavchenko and M. Dodik the participants took the opportunity to address the Head of St. Petersburg. Their questions related to increasing youth exchange, teaching the Russian language in the Republic of Srpska, as well as possibilities to attract St. Petersburg investors in the Banja Luka tourism sector.
G.S. Poltavchenko provided his comments on each of the proposals. In youth policy, he noted positive impact of student participation in youth forums organized in St. Petersburg and the Republic of Srpska and reported on continuing the work in this area. With regard to teaching the Russian language, G.S. Poltavchenko told about qualification upgrading courses conducted for Russian Language and Literature teachers among compatriots living abroad. He also mentioned the possibility to exchange delegations of teachers in order to upgrade their qualification. The City Head responded to the request concerning investment cooperation that St. Petersburg and the Republic of Srpska could work on the possibility of a joint proposal for investors already operating or interested in St. Petersburg market.
“Our peoples have harbored feelings of true friendship for each other throughout the ages. Today, our multifaceted partnership is acquiring new meaning, concrete actions are being realized”, as the Governor of St. Petersburg G.S. Poltavchenko outlined the cooperation between St. Petersburg and the Republic of Srpska.