MINSK, 7 June (BelTA) – The system created by Belarus and Lithuania for crossing the border between the European Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States has allowed reducing the time spent on the necessary border procedures for trains down to 30 minutes. The system is of great significance for raising the appeal of the transit corridor. The statement was made by Lithuanian Deputy Economy Minister Gediminas Miskinis during the plenary session of the 14th Belarusian-Lithuanian Economic Forum in Vitebsk on 7 June, BelTA has learned.
The official said that the Belarusian-Lithuanian border crossing system offers one-stop shop experience to passengers travelling by train between the European Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Apart from that, the trip from Minsk to Vilnius is now 1.5 hours shorter and takes about 2.5 hours after the new administrative measures and technological innovations were introduced.
Belarus and Lithuania have vigorously cooperated in transportation and logistics for a long time. Gediminas Miskinis described the accumulated experience as unique. Among successful projects he mentioned the intermodal transport train Viking, which was launched in 2003 together with the railway administrations, sea port administrations, and logistics companies of Belarus, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, and Azerbaijan have joined the project since then. “Expanding the project all the way to Turkey will allow connecting the Middle East with Northern Europe. Countries in Southern Caucasus represent an important transit link for Viking trains on the way to Central Asia,” said the Lithuanian deputy economy minister.
Taking into account the potential Lithuania and Belarus have, it is possible to step up cooperation in the production sector and some other industries. More food can be jointly made. “Priorities of the Lithuanian economy include the creation of products and services with a high added value as well as the assimilation of innovations and new technologies. If there is a mutual interest in these matters, representatives of the private sector of the two countries could advance cooperation more vigorously,” believes Gediminas Miskinis.
Tourism is an important part of Belarus-Lithuania cooperation. The Belarusian market is a priority one for Lithuania. The two countries interact in a traditionally active manner in trade and investment. “The preservation and expansion of constructive and mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation will contribute to further development of the two economies,” Gediminas Miskinis was convinced.
The Lithuanian delegation during the 14th Belarusian-Lithuanian Economic Forum in Vitebsk included representatives of government agencies, the embassy of Lithuania in Belarus, and over 100 executives of business associations, light industry companies, woodworking, transport, and logistics companies, finance and trade. Participants of the forum are expected to focus on discussing trade, economic, investment, and interregional cooperation between Belarus and Lithuania. The forum's work is subdivided into panel sessions on cooperation in light industry and interregional cooperation. A business matchmaking session will be arranged. Participants of the forum will get familiar with regional peculiarities of the development of cities and districts in Vitebsk Oblast on 8 June. They will visit local light industry enterprises, woodworking enterprises, agricultural enterprises, and some other industries.
