Events

MINSK, 20 December (BelTA) – The Belarusian Honorary Consulate has been opened in Marseilles, BelTA learned from the Belarusian embassy in France.

The Honorary Consul certificate was presented to French businessman Fabrice Rault. He will work in the consular district which includes the departments of Bouches-du-Rhone, Var, Hautes-Alpes, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

An official reception was held on behalf of the Belarusian ambassador to France and the honorary consul of Belarus in Marseilles to mark the opening of the Honorary Consulate. Attending the ceremony were about 100 guests, including the vice mayors of Marseilles, representatives of the political, business and public circles, the chamber of commerce and industry, the consular corps of Marseilles and the Belarusian diaspora.

The Honorary Consulate of Belarus has become the 75^th consulate accredited in Marseilles. Among the are General Consulates of Russia, the United States, China, the Honorary Consulates of Austria, Hungary, Denmark, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Peru, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Chile, Sweden, and the Republic of South Africa.

Prior to the opening of the consular establishment Belarus’ Ambassador to France Pavel Latushko held meetings with the vice mayors of Marseilles. In his words, Belarus’ Honorary Consulate was opened in Lyon on 2015 and another one in Bordeaux in 2016. The parties agreed to organize a visit for businessmen of Marseilles to Belarus and also hold a presentation on trade, economic and investment potential of cooperation with Belarus in Marseilles in 2018.

Marseilles is one of the biggest industrial, scientific and cultural centers of France, second most-populated city in the country. Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur is one of the country’s key trade and economic regions, which GDP totaled €151 billion (7% of France’s GDP).