Opinions & Interviews

CHISINAU, 3 October (BelTA) – Belarus and Moldova are satisfied with the level of bilateral relations and their dynamics, Belarus Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov told reporters on 3 October when summing up the results of his official visit to Moldova, BelTA informs.

“Yesterday I had comprehensive talks with my counterpart, Moldova Prime Minister Pavel Filip. In general, we are satisfied with the existing level of bilateral relations and their dynamics. The exchange of top-level visits made a contribution to it,” Andrei Kobyakov said.

In his words, Moldova holds the forth position in Belarus’ trade with the CIS countries. Belarus is one of top ten trade and economic partners of Moldova and is an important consumer of Moldovan wines, fruit and vegetables. “This year the bilateral trade turnover has increased by 10% to $150 million. However, the trade turnover has not reached the level of 2014 yet when our bilateral trade made up $400 million. Of course, we still have to do a lot,” the Prime Minister stressed.

Andrei Kobyakov said that the main goals of the talks were the search for the new growth areas and the efforts to bolster trade and economic cooperation. “There are all preconditions for it. First of all, we see serious prospects in the implementation of cooperation projects,” the head of government said. In particular, Belarusian trolleybuses are successfully produced in Moldova, the assembly of hybrid autonomous trolleybuses was launched in 2016. During the visit the sides concluded a contract on the delivery of autonomous trolleybus kits for Chisinau by Belkommunmash in 2017. Andrei Kobyakov cited the recent opening of an enterprise to make Belarusian small- and medium-capacity tractors in Gagauzia as a good example of cooperation. “During the visit we have also concluded a contract on the delivery of 45 kits of the Bobruisk-based plant of tractor parts and units in 2016,” the Prime Minister remarked.

Besides, an agreement was reached on the delivery of 30 tractor kits for the industrial assembly of gardening tractors in Moldova by the Smorgon-based plant of tractor units. The signing of contracts on the delivery of 500 tractors to the tune of $7 million by Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ trademark) and ten medium-capacity grain harvesters to the tune of $700,000 by Gomselmash was a landmark event.

“I would like to emphasize that Belarusian manufacturers are ready to ramp up the output of products at existing enterprises and implement new projects that are important for the two countries. Besides, we are planning to gradually raise the degree of localization,” Andrei Kobyakov said.

He noted that the government of Moldova will support such projects covering one forth of the price of a tractor purchased by Moldovan agrarians. “We hope that this mutually beneficial approach to support our joint initiatives will be preserved in the future,” the Prime Minister concluded.