Business news

MINSK, 31 August (BelTA) – Belarus-Vietnam trade increased almost by one third in H1 2017, Vietnam’s Ambassador to Belarus Le Anh told the media on 31 August, BelTA has learned.

“Over the six months of 2017 the bilateral trade grew 29.8% as against the same period last year. We have another six months to increase the figures. There are prospects to reach great results by the end of the year,” said Le Anh.

According to the diplomat, Belarus’ main exports to Vietnam include fertilizers, tractors, automobile and tractor parts, machinery, polyamide, pharmaceutical drugs, frozen poultry and by-products, tires, bearings, wine and spirits. Vietnam supplies to Belarus cashew, natural rubber, electronic devices and phones, rice, footwear and accessories, textile products, accumulator boxes, printers, seafood, tinned vegetables and fruit, coffee and tea, spices.

“If all the ministries and agencies of the two countries take necessary efforts to implement the agreements, the trade figures will go up. We hope that the figure we are aiming for ($200-250 million) will be reached in 2017,” said Le Anh.

A joint plant will start assembling trucks in Vietnam in November 2017. It is expected that the plant will deliver its products to the Vietnamese market and also the countries of the Association of the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Hanoi and other Vietnamese regions signed a number of agreements on motor vehicle supplies with MAZ and BelAZ. “Not long ago Hanoi bought 37 Belarusian Euro-class buses,” said Le Anh.

Belarus may also build a dairy plant in one of the Vietnamese provinces.