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Belarus, UK sign agreement on international road transportation
MINSK, 18 March (BelTA) – Belarus and the UK have signed an agreement on international road transportation, BelTA has learned.
The agreement is designed to regulate issues related to international transportation of passengers and cargoes between Belarus and the UK, including transit through their territories.
The document envisages international road transportation organized in accordance with the national legislation of the state where it is carried out on the basis of permits issued by the competent authorities of the parties to the agreement. The form and number of permits will be agreed by the joint committee.
The agreement bans coastal shipping, which contributes to the protection of the rights of national carriers in the transport services market. By analogy with agreements already concluded with foreign countries, it contains terms and conditions of mutual exemption from customs duties, taxes and fees on vehicle ownership and use. As expected, the agreement will create additional opportunities to increase the volume of traffic by Belarusian carriers in the direction of the UK and its neighboring countries.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UK and Northern Ireland to Belarus Fionna Gibb emphasized the importance of the document, stressing that this step would considerably simplify things for international forwarders.
In turn, Belarus’ Transport and Communications Minister Aleksei Avramenko said: “The most important effect we are waiting for is an increase in the export of transport services. All our further actions, and the signing of the agreement, should contribute to the increase of export earnings for the country as a whole and transport services in particular.”
According to the minister, the UK has become the 45th country with which Belarus signed an agreement on international motor services. Today, Belarus transports auto parts, medicines, and other highly liquid goods to the UK. Belarus plans to conclude such an agreement with China next. The minister expressed the hope that this would happen as early as in 2019.
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