Events

MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) – In 2017 the Belarus-Israel trade rose by more than 50%, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Embassy in Israel.

On 21-22 May an official delegation headed by Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusy visited Israel for the 6th meeting of the joint Belarusian-Israeli committee on trade and economic cooperation.

“During the meeting the parties reviewed the economic cooperation and bilateral trade during the period since the previous meeting. The parties welcomed a more than 50% growth in trade between the two countries in 2017 as against 2016. The parties agreed to continue mutual efforts to maintain the positive momentum in this field,” the embassy said.

The protocol of the meeting signed by committee co-chairs Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusy and Minister of Aliyah and Integration Sofa Landver provides for a number of specific arrangements to promote the development of cooperation across a wide range of areas.

The head of the Belarus delegation also held talks with Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Uri Ariel and Minister of Science, Technology and Space Ofir Akunis to discuss the priority areas of cooperation and prospects for implementation of joint projects in agriculture and science. “Ofir Akunis and chairman of Belarus’ State Science and Technology Committee Alexander Shumilin signed a memorandum of understanding. The parties expect that the document will give an impetus to the cooperation in joint research,” the embassy noted. Alexander Shumilin held talks with representatives of the Israel Innovation Authority to exchange the views on the ways of promoting cooperation in IT and innvoations.

During the visit Mikhail Rusy met with the leadership of the Israeli company Agrigo. The focus was on the prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of agriculture and food industry.

Cooperation in tourism, health resort treatment, and joint projects in the framework of regional and business contacts were in the spotlight of the meeting of the vice prime minister with activists of the Israeli association of immigrants from Belarus.

Simultaneously, the Israeli Foreign Ministry hosted another round of bilateral ministerial consultations. The Belarusian delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Dapkiunas. The Israeli delegation was led by Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alon Ushpiz and Director of the Eurasia Department Alexander Ben Zvi. The parties shared opinions on a wide range of issues on the bilateral, regional and international agenda.

The Israeli Ministry of Tourism also played host to a meeting of the joint Belarus-Israel working group on cooperation in tourism. The Belarusian delegation at the talks was led by Deputy Sport and Tourism Minister Mikhail Portnoi. The current cooperation in tourism and its promising areas were also discussed at the meeting between Mikhail Rusy and Israel’s Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin.