Business news

MINSK, 17 August (BelTA) – Belarus and Slovakia will exchange additional permits for trucking companies. The matter was discussed at a meeting of the Slovak-Belarusian mixed commission on international highway services in Bratislava, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Transport and Communications Ministry of Belarus.

Partaking in the meeting were representatives of the Transport and Communications Ministry of Belarus, the association of international road carriers BAMAP, the Belarusian embassy in Slovakia, representatives of the Slovak Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development, and Slovak haulers.

The parties shared information on the use of permits by haulers of the two countries in 2014-2015 and coordinated the preliminary quota of permits for 2016. The parties also confirmed that permits of 2015 were valid through 31 January 2016 and said that if there are not enough permits they will consider the possibility of increasing their number.

The sides agreed to additionally exchange 500 bilateral/transit permits before 1 September 2015. If there is a shortage of permits, their number will be increased up to 500 in October 2015.

The delegations also discussed trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Slovakia and noted that the mutual trade had decreased in 2014 and the first half of 2015. At the same time the Belarusian export went up by 16% in 2014. The parties expressed hope that the situation would improve in the future.

The commission exchanged information on international passenger transportation between the two countries and agreed to continue the cooperation in this area.

The Belarusian side asked the Slovak party for its assistance in facilitating visa procedures for Belarusian international haulers and its help in the accreditation of BAMAP SERVICE Company that provides visa issuance services for international haulers in Belarus. The Slovak side assured it would provide all necessary assistance.

The Slovak party also explained the rules of using its toll roads.

The delegations agreed to exchange the lists of trucking companies that violate the international highway rules. The parties also acknowledged that the number of violations had dropped.

The next meeting of the Belarusian-Slovak mixed commission on international highway services will take place in Belarus.