PM: Belarus, Syria have found new points of growth in bilateral relations

Belarus and Syria have found new points of growth in bilateral relations, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said as he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on 24 November, BelTA learned from the press service of the government.

“Now it is very important to consolidate all our friends. In this context, we considered our visit to the Syrian Arab Republic at the invitation of the prime minister of the country. Yesterday we had a very fruitful meeting. We discussed everything in bilateral relations and, in my opinion, the most important thing - we found new points of growth,” stated Roman Golovchenko.

Trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Syria is developing in the difficult conditions of economic sanctions against Syria, the destruction of transport and social infrastructure, the acute shortage of financial resources of the Syrian government and a decrease in the purchasing power of the country's population. In 2021, the trade between Belarus and Syria amounted to $8.2 million (up by 41.3% year-on-year), exports totaled $7.6 million (up by 47.9%), imports - $0.6 million (up by 6.1%). Belarus had a surplus of $7 million.

Belarus' major exports to Syria are defense and security products, milk powder, whey, medicines, tractors and truck tractors. The country's imports are olive oil, fruits and vegetables, nuts, coffee. Belarus and Syria run a joint commission on trade, economic and technical cooperation. Last time it convened in January 2022.