Opinions & Interviews

"The level of economic and trade cooperation does not meet the high level of political relations. The mutual merchandise trade is not big. We have good opportunities for fruitful investment cooperation, both for the benefit of our two countries and while working on the markets of third countries,” said Andrei Kobyakov. The Prime Minister recalled that on 1 January 2015 Belarus became official member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) which covers almost 1/6 of the Earth's land surface. "Our partners are Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and other states," the Belarusian Prime Minister said.

According to Andrei Kobyakov, Belarus views the United Arab Emirates as a priority partner in the Middle East. "We are aware of your high foreign trade turnover, and we have something to offer to your country. This is a wide range of products, primarily in engineering, petrochemicals, medical industry, food industry, which can be in demand in the UAE," stressed the Prime Minister. According to him, Belarus is ready to provide any additional information on the projects that will be of interest to Emirati business.

"We would like to see the Emirati business to arrive in Belarus and stay there for long. We will do our best for its comfortable operation, "said Andrei Kobyakov.

Mr Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori said that the economic relations between the two countries do not yet meet the high level of political contacts. He noted that for the last three years the trade, economic and investment cooperation has revitalized. "Our countries are not so far away from each other. We hope to increase the number of visits, not only between government agencies but also the private sectors," Mr Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori said.

The UAE is the main partner of Belarus among the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. In 2014, the Belarusian export amounted to $59.3 million, up 44% as against 2013. Import rose by 16.5% to $10.4 million. Belarus had a $48.9 million surplus in trade with the UAE.

In 2014, the volume of Emirati investments in Belarus reached $95.1 million, of which $4.2 millions were foreign direct investments. Foreign direct investment on a net basis totaled $1.57 million. Belarus has 15 organizations with the UAE participation.