GOMEL, 21 September (BelTA) – The development of direct contacts between businessmen, manufacturers and government agencies of the two countries will allow advancing Belarus-Latvia economic cooperation to a new level. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia to Belarus Martins Virsis made the statement as he met with top officials of the Gomel branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 21 September, BelTA has learned.
The diplomat remarked that Belarus-Latvia trade has dropped a bit in the last 18 months due to external factors. The two countries should look for new spheres and forms of cooperation to raise trade turnover. “It should be done by establishing and advancing direct ties between representatives of the business communities, manufacturers and government agencies of Belarus and Latvia,” believes Martins Virsis.
The Ambassador stressed that merchandise certification sometimes stands in the way of higher trade turnover. The issues can be resolved by tight cooperation between the chambers of commerce and industry of Latvia and Belarus, by synchronization and unification of certification methods.
Speaking about Gomel Oblast, Martins Virsis expressed interest in expanding and deepening the existing ties. He mentioned tourism as a promising area. The diplomat was particularly interested in cooperation in healthcare tourism and industrial tourism. “There are many other spheres, where contact points can be found and a new cooperation platform can be created,” he concluded.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia to Belarus Martins Virsis met with top officials of the Gomel Oblast administration and the Gomel city administration. He visited the confectionery factory Spartak. In the Gomel branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry the diplomat was made familiar with the potential of leading organizations, enterprises, and institutions of the region, including Gomselmash, Gomelglass, Gomel Chemical Plant, the free economic zone Gomel-Raton, the apparel manufacturer 8 Marta, the Gomel State University, the Gomel branch of the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange.