Belarus, Ukraine intend to ink memorandum on expansion of cooperation
The prospects of development of production cooperation between Belarusian and Ukrainian companies will be discussed by First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko and Ukrainian Vice-Premier Alexander Turchinov in Gomel on January 15. After the talks the sides intend to sign the memorandum on expansion of cooperation between the two countries, BelTA has learnt.
This working visit is a result of the dynamically developing trade and economic relations of both the countries, spokesman of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Andrei Popov told a briefing in Minsk. In 2008, the Belarusian-Ukrainian trade exceeded $4 billion. In 2009, the trade performances are expected to be higher. At the same time, the two sides should intensify their work taking into consideration the global financial crisis. “In the future, the Belarusian-Ukrainian trade may hit $5 billion”, the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said. The visit of the First Vice-Premier of Ukraine will become a regular serious step on the way of the further expansion of the cooperation of both the countries.
The Gomel oblast has the big industrial companies which have their assembly production facilities in Ukraine. So, the issues regarding the production cooperation will be high on the agenda.
The Belarusian-Ukrainian trade increased from $705.6 million in 2003 up to $4.1 billion in 2008.
