Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 27 October (BelTA) – Belarus considers Germany to be one of the most important economic and investment partners. The statement was made by Ambassador of Belarus to Germany Denis Sidorenko as the first Belarusian-German economic forum opened in the city of Mittweida, Saxony. The forum had been organized with assistance of the Parliamentary Forum for Relations with Central and Eastern Europe of the Saxony parliament, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and the Association of Saxon Industrial Enterprises, representatives of the Belarusian diplomatic mission told BelTA.

Denis Sidorenko noted that in 2016 Germany was ranked fourth in terms of trade turnover ($2.28 billion) and export ($944 million) and third in terms of import ($1.33 billion) among Belarus’ trade partners. Belarus-Germany overall terms of cooperation are getting better along with positive changes in political relations. “The fact reflects on our economic relations, which, we are pleased to note, are getting better. Belarus-Germany trade grew by more than 25% in 2017. Our goal is to support these positive trends,” said the ambassador.

Denis Sidorenko said that there are more than 300 enterprises with German capital and 90 representative offices of various companies in Belarus. “These figures can be and should be increased. After several difficult years the national economy is starting to recover. In January-September 2017 Belarus’ GDP rose by 1.7%. The World Bank has revised its initial forecast for 2017 upwards. Concrete steps have been taken lately to liberalize the economy. In the last few years Belarus improved its position in the World Bank’s Doing Business ranking,” said Denis Sidorenko.

The forum gathered over 100 representatives of companies and organizations, Belarusian and German universities, a number of parliamentarians from Saxony. Belarus was represented by the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Agency of Investment and Privatization, the Industrial Park Development Company, and the free economic zone Gomel-Raton. As part of the forum the ambassador took part in the podium discussion on the development of Belarusian-German relations and the invigoration of Belarus-Germany trade, economic, and investment cooperation. Belarusian participants of the forum were also made familiar with the work of a number of industrial enterprises in Saxony.

Speaker of the Saxon parliament Matthias Roessler was also present during the opening ceremony of the forum. State Justice Minister of Saxony, Chairman of the Parliamentary Forum of Relations with Central and Eastern Europe Countries Sebastian Gemkow made a welcome speech.

A session of the Belarus-Saxon business council took place in the chamber of commerce and industry of Leipzig. A Belarusian Economy Day was organized as part of the session. Belarusian participants presented detailed information about the latest dynamics in the development of the Belarusian economy, competitive advantages of the country, and the broad range of preferences available to foreign investors. Opinions were exchanged about the framework conditions and new opportunities Belarus offers to foreign investors in various industries.