Business news

MINSK, 8 April (BelTA) – Latvia is interested in getting Belarusian furnace oil shipped via the Riga free port, BelTA learned from Nil Ushakov, speaker of the Riga city parliament, on 8 April.

“We suggest the free port of Riga for business purposes. We are now fighting in order to get furnace oil shipped via Riga,” noted Nil Ushakov. In his words, the Belarusian side will have to decide which way they prefer. Diversifying is an option, with some of the cargoes shipped via Klaipeda and some via Riga. “If we talk about logistics, Riga is the closest destination,” stressed Nil Ushakov.

A business forum took place in Minsk on 8 April. Representatives of Belarusian companies were able to negotiate with representatives of 30 Latvian companies to discuss environmentally-friendly waste management, heat energy and bioenergy, energy production using renewable sources, mass transit systems and other things.

The event took place during the visit of the Latvian delegation led by Nil Ushakov, speaker of the Riga city parliament. The delegation is in Minsk on 7-10 April. The official delegation comprises about 20 people. Those are members of the Latvian parliament, the head of the Rezekne city parliament, deputy heads of the Daugavpils city parliament and the Liepaja city parliament, representatives of the Riga city administration. Members of the delegation were also expected to visit the Minsk city technopark on 8 April.

Latvia is ranked sixth on the list of importers of Minsk-made products. Belarus’ exports to Latvia include oil products, rapeseed oil, timber, control and measuring devices. Imports include medications, apparel, metal structures, fish, worked stone.