Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 14 February (BelTA) – Belarus views Turkey as one of the most important partners, Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov told the media following the negotiations with his Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim, BelTA has learned.

“Today Turkey is one of the most important partners for Belarus in the world and the Middle East. We view Turkey as a stepping stone to expand our economic presence in the Middle East and North Africa. Belarus, in turn, has all the conditions to become to house Turkish logistics centers and manufacturing facilities aimed at the Eurasian Economic Union and the CIS,” Andrei Kobyakov said.

More than 300 commercial entities with Turkish capital are successfully operating in Belarus. “Belarusian and Turkish businessmen intend to improve the forms of cooperation, shifting from simple trade to industrial cooperation, setting up joint ventures, and branching out into third countries together,” the Belarusian PM added.

The prime ministers discussed the intensification of trade and economic cooperation, prospects for cooperation in science and technology, education, culture, and sport in Minsk on 14 February. Andrei Kobyakov expressed hope that the Belarusian-Turkish business forum due on 15 February will set in motion new bilateral projects.

Binali Yildirim is in Belarus on a visit from 14 to 15 February. This is the first official visit of a Turkish head of government to Belarus in the history of bilateral relations.