Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 12 September (BelTA) – Belarus considers the World Bank as an important and serious partner, Belarus’ First Deputy Prime Minister Vasily Matyushevsky said as he met with World Bank Country Director for Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine Satu Kahkonen on 12 September, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Belarusian government.

“Belarus views the World Bank as an important and serious partner. We attach great attention to strengthening our cooperation and expanding cooperation areas. We hope that the World Bank will continue providing support in the areas of common interest. We welcome the organization’s well-balanced and individual approach to the analysis of the economic situation in our country and the bank’s commitment to its mandate,” noted Vasily Matyushevsky.

The First Vice Premier stressed that the Belarusian government has established trust-based relations with the World Bank. “The government’s midterm program features some ambitious tasks and a wide range of measures on economic modernization. With the five-year action plan in place, we will stick to the course to secure macroeconomic stability and economic modernization based on the well-developed private sector and efficient state regulation of the country economy,” he explained.

Vasily Matyushevsky assured that the Government of Belarus will pay close attention to cooperation with international financial institutions in implementing structural reforms. They will apply to quite a wide range of areas. “We hope that the World Bank will provide us with the support as the government is planning to implement a number of strategically important investment projects. I hope we will continue to deepen our cooperation,” Vasily Matyushevsky noted.

For her part, Satu Kahkonen noted that she intends to preserve the level of trust built in the relations between the Belarusian Government and the World Bank. “Of course, there are certain economic rules and laws that apply to all countries, but approaches need to be adjusted to every country. I welcome the positive steps which have been taken by the Belarusian Government over the past year to implement structural reforms. The World Bank is ready to provide this support to you,” Satu Kahkonen assured.