Opinions & Interviews

GOMEL, 25 October (BelTA) - The cooperation of small and medium-sized businesses will strengthen economic relations between Belarus and Ukraine, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gennadiy Chyzhykov told the media at the meeting of the Belarusian-Ukrainian Business Cooperation Advisory Council in Gomel on 25 October. The meeting is held as part of the ongoing 1^st Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Ukraine, BelTA has learned.

“It is important that small and medium-sized businesses find each other. Active interaction between small and medium-sized businesses makes economic relations between countries stronger,” said Gennadiy Chyzhykov.

Ukrainian businessmen are ready to offer new products, work with Belarus in order to promote these products to the markets of other countries. There are proposals related to alternative energy, agricultural processing, pharmacology. “These niches are very important,” added the president of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He also stressed the importance of industrial cooperation. “There is nothing better than joint manufacturing. We are interested in more Belarusian enterprises coming to the Ukrainian market,” said Gennadiy Chyzhykov. He also believes that it is necessary to promote, upgrade, and improve the operating joint ventures.

Gennadiy Chyzhykov expressed confidence that thanks to the fruitful interaction of the authorities, business, and enterprises, Belarus and Ukraine will soon fulfill the task of increasing trade set by the presidents of the two countries.

The issues on agenda of the meeting include the development of a draft agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Belarus to approve the Electronic Certificate of Origin System. The parties also discuss interregional cooperation and the export potential of the regions, prospects for using trading platforms to expand mutual trade between Belarus and Ukraine, business cooperation in various fields.

The parties plan to sign a number of business contracts and agreements. The participants of the meeting are also set to hold talks in the business networking format.

The Belarus-Ukraine Business Cooperation Advisory Council was established in 2010 with the aim to facilitate the development of cooperation between Belarus and Ukraine in the trade and economic sector, expand contacts between the business community, increase trade between the two countries.