Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 9 October (BelTA) - Belarus and Kazakhstan are well-positioned to reach $1 billion in bilateral trade in 2018, Belarus Prime Minister Sergei Rumas said as he met with Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belarus Yermukhamet Yertysbayev, BelTA has learned.

Sergei Rumas stressed that Kazakhstan is a strategic partner of Belarus. “In January-August, the trade amounted to $610 million, which was up 40% over the same period a year prior. We in no way should slow down. We should aim to hit $1 billion in bilateral trade this year,” the prime minister said.

Yermukhamet Yertysbayev highlighted the high level of interregional relations between the two countries. The Belarusian machinery assembly facilities in Kazakhstan contribute to the economic cooperation. “Trade volumes are impressive, and the prospects are very good,” he added.

The issues of the development of bilateral relations will be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the Belarus-Kazakhstan intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation. The Belarusian part of the commission is headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Turchin.