Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 13 November (BelTA) - Belarus is vital for Europe from the point of view of logistics, BelTA learnt from Spain’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia and concurrently to Belarus Jose Ignacio Carbajal Garate who took part in the opening ceremony of the Spanish visa center in Minsk on 12 November.

The Ambassador noted that he had a number of important meetings during his visit to Belarus. In particular, he held talks with Belarus’ Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei.

The officials talked over the state and prospects of Belarusian-Spanish political, trade and economic ties and educational and cultural cooperation. The parties exchanged views on the ways of strengthening cooperation in the areas of mutual interest. The Spanish Ambassador presented the copies of his credentials to Vladimir Makei.

Jose Ignacio Carbajal Garate said that he came to Minsk together with the embassy’s advisers in charge of political, economic and cultural affairs and media issues. During the meetings the sides discussed various cooperation areas. “We exchanged views on what can be done in order to strengthen the Belarusian-Spanish collaboration in the field of economy and investments and how to invigorate cooperation between businessmen. Currently Belarus and Spain have modest results of economic cooperation,” Jose Ignacio Carbajal Garate stressed.

According to him, Belarus is strategically important in terms of logistics and this significant aspect should be used in Belarusian-Spanish cooperation to the fullest extent.

The Ambassador underlined that Spain is the fourth most important economy in the Eurozone and 13th in the world.

“At the meetings in Minsk we discussed how to efficiently exploit our opportunities to the benefit of both sides,” the Spanish diplomat noted.

During the visit he also met with Belarus’ Deputy Education Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Now I am certain that we have great cooperation potential in many areas,” Jose Ignacio Carbajal Garate said.