Opinions & Interviews

BISHKEK, 16 September (BelTA) – Belarus is ready to help set up joint ventures and develop industrial facilities in Moldova, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Moldova Prime Minister Pavel Filip, BelTA has learned.

“You are aware of my sincere attitude to Moldova. Everything that I said during my official visit to Moldova is in force. Moreover, we have everything that Moldova needs,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

The two countries have already established joint ventures in Moldova, they are interested in organizing new enterprises. “If you want something more, and are interested in the relocation of our production facilities to Moldova tell us, let’s your government support us, and I guarantee that within a year at most we will organize production in your country,” the President of Belarus stressed. “We are also interested in big localization. We do not insist on bringing tractor parts to Moldova and organizing screwdriver production there. We will do our best to produce all kinds of products in Moldova. The quality of products is a priority.”

Belarus is also ready to deliver more foodstuffs and oil products to Moldova, promote the development of agriculture and machine-building, Alexander Lukashenko noted. “However, we are not interested in exorbitant prices. Belarus will always be a reliable friend of Moldova. I will tell the Belarusian prime minister to adhere to this position during his official visit to Moldova. Please tell us what you want, it is the main thing. We will do everything for you,” the President said.

The head of state added that the market of Belarus is open for Moldovan products, in particular, Moldovan wine. “The main thing is to ensure quality and avoid grey schemes. You are aware of our principled stance on this matter,” he stressed.

The Prime Minister of Moldova, in turn, thanked Alexander Lukashenko for the meeting and reaffirmed the country’s readiness to develop partnership with Belarus in various fields. Our relations are vigorously developing after your visit to Moldova. It is very important for us,” he stressed.

Pavel Filip spoke in positive terms about the visit of Belarus Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov to Chisinau which is scheduled for 2-3 October. In his words, Moldova will host a business forum and a session of the interparliamentary commission. “In view of the speed of our movement, we will definitely achieve success,” the Prime Minister stressed.

The bilateral trade between the two countries made up $137.4 million in January-July 2016. Last year Belarus’ main exports to Moldova were oil products, tobacco products, trolleybuses, tractors, coke and bitumen, ceramic tiles, glass fiber, potato, tires, medications, alcohol, hosiery, dairy and fish products. Moldova exported grape wines, spirits, corn, sugar, and fruit to Belarus.

There are three joint assembly facilities in Moldova. These are the facilities assembling Belkommunmash trolleybuses, Belarus-921 tractors of the Smorgon-based plant, low-capacity tractors of the Bobruisk-based plant. Plans have been made to launch the assembly of MAZ wireless trolleybuses and city bases in Moldova.