Business news

MINSK, 23 November (BelTA) – Belarus plans to utilize about €400 million under Austrian projects in 2016, Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Vladimir Ulakhovich said at the opening of the business matchmaking event for Belarusian and Austrian businessmen.

“Our business relations have been developing dynamically, we can say, in a positive and exemplary way as compared with our other partners in Europe. We have an excellent investment history. Austria is Belarus’ major investor among the European countries. This year alone, we plan to utilize about €400 million of Austrian investments under projects launched in Belarus in recent years,” Vladimir Ulakhovich said. He called for supporting the momentum, building up the interaction. “We should be working to increase our trade which is modest for the time being,” he noted.

For his part, the head of the Austria trade promotion authority in Russia Rudolf Lukavsky said that the economic relations between Belarus and Austria have gained a positive momentum. “Austria is one of the biggest investors in Belarus. The mutual trade has declined in the past two years. At the moment, it is around €170 million. The goal of our economic mission is to bolster business contacts,” Rudolf Lukavsky said.

He noted that 25 representatives of various Austrian companies have come to Minsk to meet with Belarusian colleagues. “We believe that Belarus has a good future, and we are here to discuss joint projects,” he added.