Events
Belarus, Egypt sign cooperation roadmap for 2019-2020
MINSK, 18 June (BelTA) – A comprehensive program (roadmap) to guide the advancement of Belarus-Egypt cooperation in 2019-2020 has been signed. The ceremony took place in the Palace of Independence in Minsk on 18 June in the presence of the two heads of state, BelTA has learned.
Belarusian Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Minister, chairman of the Belarusian part of the Belarus-Egypt trade cooperation Vladimir Koltovich told BelTA that the implementation of the previous document for the 2017-2018 period had produced results. The new roadmap covers the entire spectrum of cooperation with Egypt in the manufacturing sector and includes assembly enterprises of the Belarusian companies MTZ, MAZ, Amkodor, and Bobruiskagromash. “We will have to increase the number of dealerships and aftersales service centers for our vehicles. Within one year we’ve opened several assembly enterprises and successfully work on the Egyptian market,” the official noted. “This roadmap represents the next step towards a higher localization rate, towards the opening of new assembly enterprises. For instance, Minsk Motor Plant intends to open an enterprise like that.”
Vladimir Koltovich added: “Work in the areas of military technology cooperation, science, information technologies, culture, and education is another goal. Certainly, we would like to be successful on the Arab market. Today Egypt is one of the most respected countries in the Arab world and positions itself as a gateway to the African market.” Besides, the document stipulates agreements in the area of regional cooperation. “In particular, Minsk Oblast is friends with and cooperates with South Sinai Governorate. There are plans to establish cooperation between the Minsk City Executive Committee and Cairo Governorate,” the minister explained.
In addition to the roadmap a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the area of youth policy between the Belarusian Education Ministry and the Egyptian Youth and Sports Ministry was signed in the presence of the two heads of state.
The sides also agreed to set up a business cooperation council by signing a memorandum between the Belarusian Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Ministry and the Egyptian Trade and Industry Ministry. Apart from that, an agreement was reached on cooperation in the area of standardization, with a memorandum signed between the relevant government agencies.
In the last two years Belarus-Egypt trade nearly doubled – from $57.8 million in 2016 to $108.7 million in 2018. Belarus’ merchandise export nearly doubled as well (from $43.3 million to $83 million). The countries are now considering and implementing over 15 joint projects in the area of the manufacturing sector, agriculture, science, and personnel training. Providing assistance to Egypt with improving the country’s industrialization, renewing industrial technologies, and creating jobs is a priority avenue of cooperation. A joint project to make MAZ automobiles was launched in February 2018. A multipurpose enterprise in Alexandria makes MTZ tractors, Gomselmash grain harvesters, and other agricultural machines for Egyptian farmers. It has created 40 jobs and made 302 tractors in 2018. Assembly lines to make Amkodor loaders and Bobruiskagromash agricultural machines have been made together with the Military Industry Ministry of Egypt.
print version
make home page
add to bookmarks
