Business news

MINSK, 3 September (BelTA) – Kazakhstan business is interested in Belarus’ free economic zones from the point of view of joint ventures, Managing Director of the National Export and Investment Agency Kaznex Invest Askar Arynov said at the opening of the Belarus-Kazakhstan Business Forum, BelTA has learned.

"Belarus operates free economic zones, and they should be interesting for Kazakhstan business given the terms and conditions offered there. It shows that today our companies will consider not only the export of Kazakh products but also the possibility of establishing joint ventures and manufacturing products interesting for the Belarusian market,” said Askar Arynov. "What was stated when the EEU was created, namely the integration of our economies and our business communities, is evidenced by today's event," he said.

The Kazakhstan delegation is composed of representatives of 15 companies representing such industries as mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, food and chemical industry, building. "These are the biggest manufacturers in our country. They have proved well in the markets of Central Asia and Russia. Each of them is interested in cooperation with Belarus,” said Askar Arynov.

The National Export and Investment Agency Kaznex Invest has organized the fourth such event in Minsk. The previous forums resulted in the new contracts for the delivery of Kazakhstan products to Belarus to the tune of more than $10 million.

"Yesterday we were happy to see Kazakhstan-made products in some stores in Minsk. For example, we saw the dairy drinks Tang and Shubat. They are made by the Kazakhstan manufacturer Lider 2010. Belarus is famous for its dairy products, and we are glad to see Kazakhstan drinks, as well as chechil cheese on the shop shelves in Minsk,” Askar Arynov told reporters.

"The crisis is a difficult time for manufacturers. Yet it gives an opportunity to look differently at the conditions of work. We should not focus only one country and one market. We need to move forward. Geographically, Belarus is the westernmost point of the Eurasian Economic Union. Accordingly, it is the gateway to Europe not only for Kazakhstan but for Russian producers. Today, therefore, we hope that we will raise our cooperation to a higher level and will think about the establishment of joint ventures,” said Askar Arynov.

A delegation from Kazakhstan is in Belarus on a visit on 2-4 September for a business matchmaking session and also the Belarus-Kazakhstan business forum. The event has been organized by the National Export and Investment Agency KAZNEX INVEST and the Minsk Office of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Belarusian enterprises and 15 Kazakh companies will negotiate in the following areas: engineering, pharmaceuticals, food and chemical industry, building.

In terms of Belarusian export Kazakhstan is the third most important partner of Belarus in the CIS after Russia and Ukraine. In 2014 the foreign trade between Belarus and Kazakhstan amounted to $1.2 billion, up 23% from 2013. In January-June 2015 the trade reached $300 million, a 33% decrease from the same period of 2014. Belarus’ major exports are tractors and truck tractors, fresh fruit, milk and dairy products, furniture, sugar, tires. Belarus’ new export items this year are metal-rolling machines, tobacco goods, acrylic polymers, animal fat and vegetable oil, edible oils, shell fish. Belarus imports from Kazakhstan unprocessed aluminum, mineral fertilizers, liquefied gas, non-alloy rolled steel, petroleum products.