Opinions & Interviews

“The government of Belarus intends to continue active comprehensive interaction with Azerbaijani partners, including in the format of the bilateral intergovernmental commission, or in any other format. We will consider every project as long as needed and will always find a solution,” said Mikhail Rusy.

He expressed satisfaction with the momentum in trade and economic cooperation with Azerbaijan. The two countries' trade in January-September rose 3.3 times over the same period a year prior and amounted to $331.5 million. “Now we need to work actively on new joint projects to ensure that the growth trend in mutual trade is sustainable and long-term. We attach great importance to enhancing cooperation in the field of industrial and agricultural cooperation, the work of the Ganja Automobile Plant that assembles tractors, combine harvesters, MAZ trucks and other goods. Together we have set up a farm machinery industry,” Mikhail Rusy said.

According to him, the cooperation between the two countries will help promote the project to produce Belarus-Azerbaijan tractors in Turkey to a new level. “This is a new promising project of the three states. Its successful implementation will pave the way for our new initiatives aimed at the joint market development in the region,” Mikhail Rusy added.

He named cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan in transport and logistics, the petrochemical sector and pharmaceutics as promising. “We are ready for further steps to set up in Azerbaijan the production of anticancer drugs. This is both an economic and social project. I believe that the parties will promptly establish communication so that the enterprise would start operating next year,” the vice premier said.

The Belarusian government also intends to actively promote mutual food supplies. “Azerbaijani consumers are already well-familiar with dairy, meat, and confectionery products from Belarus. We welcome the opening of the Trading House of Azerbaijan in Minsk last year and other similar initiatives of our friends. The Belarusian government will continue providing all possible assistance,” said Mikhail Rusy.

Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub Eyyubov emphasized the need to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. “The current level of trade does not meet our potential. The friendly relations between the two states are important,” he added.

The intergovernmental commission signed seven documents, including three to develop cooperation with Ganja Auto Plant.