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2 Jul 2015

Belarus ready to develop all-round cooperation with Qatar

Belarus ready to develop all-round cooperation with Qatar

MINSK, 2 July (BelTA) – Belarus is ready to develop all-round cooperation with Qatar, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Qatar Minister of State for Defense Affairs Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah on 2 July, BelTA has learned.

The Belarusian head of state noted that the two countries cooperate in various fields. “There are no closed topics. We are ready to cooperate in education, military and technical field if your country is interested in it,” the Belarusian leader said.

“But you should know and please tell my good friend, the Emir of Qatar, that we are ready to cooperate with your country in all areas, we will always be a reliable partner fort you,” Alexander Lukashenko emphasized.

The President believes that the existing level of trade between the two countries which makes up $18-20 million is ridiculous. “We expect not only to double bilateral trade, but also to increase it several times,” the Belarusian head of state said.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko met with Qatar Minister of State for Defense Affairs Hamad bin Ali Al AttiyahAlexander Lukashenko thanked Qatar for investments. He said that the Investment Fund of the Armed Forces of Qatar implements a project to build a multi-purpose hotel and sports complex in Minsk. “I think that this facility will operate at full capacity because, in my opinion, the weather in your country at this time of the year is awful, that is why many people of Qatar prefer to travel and recreate abroad. I believe that it is difficult to find a place better than Belarus to recover from heat and have a rest,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

According to the President, the inflow of Qatari people to Minsk will help improve hotel and catering services. “But the main thing is that not only tourists but also specialists, politicians and especially businessmen will have a home in Minsk and will visit it more often. I think that we will open a new page of Qatar’s investment to the Belarusian economy. Therefore, we will be able to advance our cooperation to a brand-new level,” the Belarusian head of state believes.

Alexander Lukashenko invited the Emir of Qatar to visit Belarus. “He will learn more about our country, see all the facilities that you have built here, see where you have injected huge funds. It will be easier to come to an agreement with your businessmen and politicians on the measures to deepen our cooperation,” the President remarked.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko met with Qatar Minister of State for Defense Affairs Hamad bin Ali Al AttiyahThe Qatar Minister of State for Defense Affairs, in turn, said that the implementation of such a large-scale investment project in Minsk will serve as an example for other Qatari investors. He noted that the Emir is also satisfied with the projects and sent him to Belarus to discuss the prospects of enhancing bilateral cooperation.

The project was launched in 2012. The volume of investments made up about $160 million. The main building of the multi-purpose complex in the Pobediteley Avenue is a five-star hotel with 220 rooms. The management company is the international hotel network Marriott. The complex includes a sports center which will be able to host competitions in various sports such as handball, basketball, wrestling, volleyball, tennis as well as large-scale cultural events, shops and cafes, two swimming pools, a spa center, a tennis club, a squash playground, a multi-level parking lot with 300 places. The preliminary opening of the facility is scheduled for 3 July. It will become fully operational in October 2015.

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