Events

MINSK, 19 November (BelTA) – Belarus views Serbia as a key trade and economic partner in the Balkans, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told reporters after the talks with Serbia President Tomislav Nikolic in Minsk on 19 November, BelTA has learned.

The two sides have many common interests relying on the vigorous economic, humanitarian, scientific and technical cooperation and numerous contacts between people.

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that the talks with the President of Serbia and the delegation of this country was held in the form of an open and trust-based dialogue which focused on the entire spectrum of the Belarusian-Serbian cooperation, and the main emphasis was on the fulfillment of the previous instructions of the heads of state.

Trade and economic cooperation is the foundation of bilateral interaction. Alexander Lukashenko noted that after the signing of the free trade agreement in 2009 the trade turnover between the two countries went up five times. “Of course, this figure does not match the potential of our trade and economic cooperation,” the Belarusian leader said.

According to the President of Belarus, there are good prospects in the fuel and energy sector, agriculture, machine building, improvement of the transport infrastructure, science, education, and tourism.

“I understand the President of Serbia who says that the investments in the manufacturing industry are very important for Serbia today. This is the right course. If there are efficient enterprises, if people are employed, there will be budget revenues and stability in the country,” the Belarusian leader said.

Alexander Lukashenko believes that Belarus and Serbia have developed their relations to the stage when the sides realize the need to advance from simple trade operations to more complex and efficient cooperation forms in the manufacturing sector, science and technology, innovations. He noted that Belarusian tractors, buses, freight vehicles are already assembled in Serbia. These products have found a niche on the markets of Serbia and the Balkan region. There are also promising projects to set up joint ventures to make fire engines and farm equipment.