Business news

MINSK, 20 July (BelTA) - Belarus is ready to supply the whole range of engineering products to Zimbabwe, Belarus Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov said as he met with Zimbabwe Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, BelTA has learned.

The head of government noted that Belarus is among the leading world producers of equipment which is competitive in price and quality. "Belarus has a recognized expertise and unique technologies, especially in agricultural machinery. We are ready to supply the whole range of engineering products to Zimbabwe: mining, agricultural and road-building machinery,” Andrei Kobyakov said. The Belarusian side is also interested in supplying high-quality trucks made by Minsk Automobile plant.

Belarus also offers modern financial instruments and attractive conditions for sales of domestic equipment such as export credits and international leasing.

Among other possible areas of bilateral cooperation between Belarus and Zimbabwe Andrei Kobyakov suggested education, deliveries of potash fertilizers. "We are ready to fully meet the needs of Zimbabwe, including within the framework of long-term mutually beneficial contracts," he said.

According to the Belarusian head of government, the prospects are good in the field of scientific and technical cooperation. He suggested starting the cooperation with the technologies of remote sensing data processing, the use of microbiological fertilizers, water purification, and the use of multi-purpose unmanned aircraft systems developed by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

“Certainly an important focus of our work should be the development of the legal framework of our relations. We also need to speed up the formation of a joint commission on trade and economic cooperation, to start substantive work on specific areas,” the Belarusian Prime Minister said.

In general, Andrei Kobyakov noted that Belarus sees Zimbabwe as a promising partner in the African region and appreciates friendly relations with this country. “Although the bilateral trade and economic cooperation is very modest today, I am sure we can revive mutually beneficial cooperation and braise it to a higher level,” Andrei Kobyakov added.

The Vice President of Zimbabwe thanked the Belarusian side for the warm welcome. He confessed that he was surprised to see that Belarus is a well developed country, with clean cities and friendly people.

At the end of the meeting, the parties signed the memorandum of understanding between the Governments of Belarus and Zimbabwe on deliveries of Belarusian equipment to Zimbabwe and on provision of credits.