Business news

MINSK, 29 November (BelTA) – Belarus-Kazakhstan trade turnover should reach at least $1 billion in 2020, BelTA learned from First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vasily Matyushevsky during the Belarusian-Kazakhstani business forum on 29 November.

“We are definitely not satisfied with the current level of trade and economic relations, this is why we intend to achieve a trade turnover of $1 billion in 2020. Nevertheless, according to our estimates, it will be quite a modest result. Much more can be accomplished,” said Vasily Matyushevsky.

Vasily Matyushevsky said he believes that the Belarusian-Kazakhstani business forum would become a major event for Belarusian and Kazakhstani businessmen since the two countries are connected by many years of friendship and mutual understanding and have a long record of effective cooperation in various branches of economy. “Results of today’s talks between the heads of state are a testimony to the eagerness of Belarus and Kazakhstan to advance multifaceted cooperation. Kazakhstan has been a high priority trade and economic partner for Belarus for many years,” said First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vasily Matyushevsky.

Vasily Matyushevsky stressed that through reliance on the long track record of mutually beneficial cooperation between Belarus and Kazakhstan it is now necessary to step up efforts and expand avenues of future work, effectively using the potential of the private sector for accomplishing all kinds of economic tasks.

The Belarusian-Kazakhstani economic forum gathered about 400 participants in Minsk. The event was held at the same time Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev met for negotiations. The president of Kazakhstan is in Belarus on an official visit on 29-30 November. Since 29 November has been full of negotiations and 30 November’s agenda is tightly packed, the presidents of Belarus and Kazakhstan instructed the first vice premiers of the two countries — Vasily Matyushevsky and Askar Mamin — to take part in the business forum and finish it.