Opinions & Interviews

Al-Assad: Visit of Belarus’ delegation is very important for us

MINSK, 24 November (BelTA) – The visit of the Belarusian delegation to Syria is very important for us, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said as he met with Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, BelTA has learned.

“Your visit is very important for us. This is just the beginning. Over these two days we have signed quite a lot of agreements. I deem it necessary to focus on a few key agreements and to make sure we implement them substantively,” Bashar al-Assad said.

According to him, unfortunately, the two countries have not achieved significant economic complementarity yet. At the same time, Syria and Belarus have great potential for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation. “We also appreciate Belarus’ great support for Syria in its struggle,” he said.

Trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Syria is developing in the difficult conditions of economic sanctions against Syria, the destruction of transport and social infrastructure, the acute shortage of financial resources of the Syrian government and a decrease in the purchasing power of the country's population. In 2021, the trade between Belarus and Syria amounted to $8.2 million (up by 41.3% year-on-year), exports totaled $7.6 million (up by 47.9%), imports - $0.6 million (up by 6.1%). Belarus had a surplus of $7 million.

Belarus’ major exports to Syria are defense and security products, milk powder, whey, medicines, tractors and truck tractors. The country’s imports are olive oil, fruits and vegetables, nuts, coffee. Belarus and Syria run a joint commission on trade, economic and technical cooperation. Last time it convened in January 2022.

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