Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 20 May (BelTA) – The Days of Riga in Minsk will help strengthen bilateral relations, Chairman of the Minsk City Council of Deputies Vasily Panasyuk said as he met with an official delegation of the Latvian capital headed by Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs, BelTA has learned.

Relations between the cities were formalized in 1990 to make the basis for the cooperation between Minsk and Riga. “Over the years, we have achieved good results: 1,240 enterprises of Minsk maintain trade relations with Latvia; trade increased by 25%,” Vasily Panasyuk said.

During the meeting Deputy Chairperson of the Minsk City Hall Zhanna Birich drew attention to the intensive contacts between businesses of the two countries. “Since the Days of Minsk in Riga in 2014 the number of joint ventures has increased to 146 in Minsk. This trend should continue,” Zhanna Birich said.

“During the Days of Riga in Mink, we will arrange consultations for legal matters for businessmen from the Latvian capital. Today we will do some practical work to help businesses overcome barriers and secure a foothold on the Belarusian market,” she stressed.

For his part, Nils Usakovs noted that the two capitals have reached a high level of cooperation and maintain in constant working contact. According to him, Riga is interested in the experience of Minsk in many areas, including the utilities sector, public transport.

Riga Days in Minsk are running on 18-21 May. A business meeting in the Minsk City Technopark is slated for 20 May. Nils Usakovs together with Latvian and Belarusian businessmen will plant a tree in the Alley of Honorary Guests at the technopark. The Riga Yard will open at the Minsk Komarovsky Market on 20 May as well. Chizhovka Arena will host a friendly between the youth ice hockey school Riga and HC Yunost Minsk.