Lukashenko tasks new ambassador to Russia with enhancing Belarusian standing on Russian market

MINSK. July 2 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has tasked new Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Alexander Rogozhnik to achieve tangible results in industrial cooperation between Russia and Belarus.

"I very much hope that we will make progress in cooperation in the first turn. This is about industries. Tangible results must be achieved there," the Belarusian state-run news agency BelTA quoted Lukashenko as saying.

He called the situation on the Russian market challenging because of high competition. "There is no way around it. It has always been this way and will always be. Yet we cannot lose our standing on the Russian market. This is No. 1 task for you," Lukashenko told Rogozhnik.

Belarus needs to open and develop multi-brand and office centers and trade houses in Russia, Lukashenko said, adding that cooperation should develop and the Russian credit line for joint industrial projects should be used.

Rogozhnik previously served as the Belarusian industry minister.