Opinions & Interviews

KIEV, 21 July (BelTA) – The Belarusian and Ukrainian business communities show a strong interest in cooperation, President of Ukraine’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gennady Chizhikov said at the opening of the Belarusian-Ukrainian business forum on 21 July, BelTA has learned.

“Some 90 Belarusian companies and over 380 Ukrainian ones have registered at our forum. The crowded hall demonstrates a great interest in cooperation,” Gennady Chizhikov remarked.

In his words, Belarus-Ukraine relations have always been friendly. The countries are interested in close collaboration. “We should maintain the trust between our countries. We have always built relations based on prospects,” he underlined.

Gennady Chizhikov described the current forum as momentous. “Unfortunately, the trade which was record high in 2012 has considerably fallen since then. But we already have a reason for optimism. Our statistics point to the growing interest of Belarusian and Ukrainian businessmen in cooperation. Belarus-Ukraine trade surged by 45% over the last five months, which exceeds the average growth of exports with other countries,” he noted.

The Belarusian-Ukrainian business forum is taking place in Kiev on 21 July. The participants will consider cooperation between businessmen of the two countries. Belarusian participants will get an opportunity to hold talks with representatives of Ukrainian companies interested in developing cooperation in mechanical engineering, industrial production, agriculture, petrochemistry, energy and electrical technology, construction and infrastructure development, transport, tourism, pharmaceutics, and other fields.

The Belarusian delegation and Ukrainian businessmen plan to sign bilateral contacts and agreements. Contracts are estimated at more than $45 million.