Business news

GOMEL, 8 December (BelTA) – Belarus asks Russia to make maximum efforts to bring the mutual trade to $40 billion, Belarus’ Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov said at the Union State Council of Ministers meeting on 8 December, BelTA has learned.

In January-September 2017 the trade between Belarus and Russia increased by more than 20%. Andrei Kobyakov stated that this year the two countries are expected to reach $28 billion, the level of 2010. It cannot be hailed as an outstanding result, especially taking in account the fact that the mutual trade exceeded $40 billion in the past.

“We need to make every effort to build on the current positive momentum,” Andrei Kobyakov said.

The two countries will continue working out joint measures to remove barriers in mutual trade, liberalize the economic activity. These approaches were taken into account when the priority areas for the Union State mid-term development for 2018-2022 were considered. “This document should become a renewed strategy for the Union State integration. Its implementation will help the two countries tap into their internal reserves for strengthening the Union State relations,” the Belarusian head of government said.

The parties will also consider the Union State budget and its execution. “We must elaborate proposals on the ways of executing the budget efficiently and in full. This, first of all, pertains to Union State programs. The program selection mechanism should be improved. In our opinion, there is also a need to adjust the procedures governing the development and implementation of the Union State programs,” Andrei Kobyakov said.