Business news

MINSK, 10 July (BelTA) – The first international business forum Belarus-Tajikistan-Afghanistan will take place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in late July 2017, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Tajikistan and concurrently to Afghanistan Oleg Ivanov told the media as he attended a seminar of heads of Belarus’ diplomatic missions and consulates, BelTA has learned.

Over 100 Afghanistani businessmen confirmed their participation in the forum. According to Oleg Ivanov, Belarus has underestimated the potential of this region which has many promising avenues of mutually beneficial cooperation. Firstly, this is about the exports of Belarus' trucks, agricultural and special-purpose equipment to the market. The embassy places special emphasis on the promotion of ceramic tiles, tires, powdered milk, long-shelflife dairy products, medicines, potash fertilizers, and other products.

“Our bilateral relations are at the initial stage, yet in 2015-2017 some meetings at the highest level were held and the Afghani business representatives visited Belarus. This shows Afghanistan’s interest in intensifying political, economic, humanitarian, social cooperation, as well as interaction in other fields. There has been a positive momentum in Belarus-Afghanistan trade,” Oleg Ivanov noted.

In 2015-2016 Belarus-Afghanistan trade surged by 60% to total $26.4 million. In January-May 2017 it skyrocketed by 87.7% and reached $9.1 million. A draft plan of action for bilateral cooperation has been worked out. Belarus has submitted a number of draft agreements and memorandums for consideration to the Afghanistani side to gradually shape the bilateral legal framework. A memorandum of agricultural cooperation was signed during the visit of the Afghanistani agriculture, irrigation and livestock minister to Belarus.

In August 2016 Oleg Ivanov presented his credentials to the Afghanistan president as the first ever Belarusian ambassador in the country.