Events

MINSK, 26 October (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko will take part in the 1st Forum of Regions of Belarus and Ukraine in Gomel on 26 October, BelTA has learned.

Before speaking at the plenary session of the forum, the presidents will hold a one-on-one meeting. “Top on the agenda of the talks will be trade, economic and investment cooperation through the prism of direct contacts at the regional level,” the presidential press service informed on 25 October.

A number of documents are to be signed at the forum. These documents are aimed at expanding contacts across the entire spectrum of Belarus-Ukraine cooperation.

The agreement to arrange the 1st Forum of Regions of Belarus and Ukraine in Gomel was reached during the official visit of the Belarusian president to Ukraine on 20-21 July 2017. This interregional forum runs for two days and its program includes a session of the Belarus-Ukraine business cooperation advisory board and a business matchmaking session, thematic conferences and meetings of representatives of industry-wise ministries, an interactive discussion, a trade show of products made by Belarusian and Ukrainian companies and a friendship concert.

In January-August 2018, Belarus-Ukraine trade made up $3.66 billion, up 23.7% over the same period in 2017. The export was estimated at $2.71 billion, up 23.5%.

As of today, 295 companies with Ukrainian capital operate in Belarus, including 122 joint ventures. Ukraine has 8 joint factories assembling various Belarusian machines. All in all, there are over 100 organizations of the commodity distribution network of Belarusian products in Ukraine.