Vitebsk, Saxony intend to sign cooperation agreement

VITEBSK, 23 November (BelTA) – Belarus’ Vitebsk Oblast and Saxony of Germany intend to sign a cooperation agreement, chairman of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee Alexander Kosinets said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Belarus Christof Weil. Vitebsk is also going to sign a cooperation agreement with Leipzig. Singing of such agreements helps establish business and cultural contacts between the countries, Alexander Kosinets believes. According to him, the trade between Germany and Vitebsk Oblast can be dozens times higher. There are all prerequisites for that. Decree No 10 has created favorable conditions for raising investments to Belarus and developing business initiative. The preferences granted to producers in small towns and rural regions also contribute to a better investment climate. The free economic zones also may be of interest to foreign partners. Vitebsk Oblast is interested in close cooperation with German partners in the sectors from the automotive industry to electronics to tourism. Most promising areas of investment activity are projects to create a transport and logistic center in Vitebsk, assembly facilities of automobiles and farm machines, the construction of hotels, facilities in timber, building materials and pharmaceuticals industries, production of drinking and mineral water. Vitebsk Oblast can increase the supplies of rape-seed oil, casein, milk powder, flax clothes, frozen and tinned berries and mushrooms, peat, wooden products to Germany. During the meeting Alexander Kosinets suggested organizing a visit of German businessmen to Vitebsk Oblast. “A businessman is not going to invest until he makes sure of future benefits,” the governor added. In January-September 2010 foreign trade between Vitebsk Oblast and Germany almost reached $88 million, 98.4% to the same period a year ago. The export exceeded $26 million. Belarus’ main exports to Germany comprised textile, fiber tissue and fiber cloth, machine tools and casein. The Belarusian export includes 50 descriptions of products. In Vitebsk Oblast there are 20 companies with the German capital.

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