News & Events in Belarus

Lukashenko calls for more advanced cooperation between Belarus, Cuba

HAVANA, 25 June (BelTA) – Belarus and Cuba should advance from mere trade to more sophisticated forms of economic cooperation, President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba Raul Castro Ruz in Havana on 25 June, BelTA has learnt.

In particular, the bilateral cooperation might advance to a new level in industry, agriculture, information technologies and biotechnologies.

Taking into consideration that over 14,500 Belarusian tractors, over 5,500 MAZ vehicles, and about 90 BelAZ quarry trucks are operated in Cuba, Belarus is ready to help set up a machinery repair and upgrade center in Cuba and in the future a factory to assemble tractors and other farm and construction machines to meet the needs of Cuba and the neighboring countries.  

The first step towards implementing these projects is setting up centers to renovate and upgrade Belarusian tractors. Minsk Tractor Works is ready to discuss the matter with Cuban officials.

Belarus is ready to meet the needs of Cuban economy in modern powerful tractors and other farm machines. Belarus has recently shipped the first batch of powerful tractors to Cuba. Belarus believes that Cuba can greatly benefit from a broader use of these tractors. Belarus might also consider opening an office of the Belarusian Industry Ministry in Cuba.

Belarusian specialists are ready to help implement projects to upgrade infrastructure, oil refineries and power installations in Cuba.

Belarus might help Cuba create advanced telecommunication and computer systems, software and train IT specialists. Taking into consideration that Cuba has qualified geology specialists speaking Russian, it might make sense to run joint projects in geological survey in Ecuador, Nicaragua, Bolivia and other Latin American countries.

Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that this year Belarus and Cuba mark the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties. The President noted that over these years the bilateral cooperation has grown into strategic partnership.