MINSK, 30 September (BelTA) – Belarus' Minsk Oblast and the Austrian state of Carinthia have plans to strengthen their economic cooperation. A relevant agreement was reached during the visit of a Belarusian delegation led by Chairman of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee Semyon Shapiro to Carinthia on 29 and 30 September, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the visit that was organized at the invitation of State Governor of Carinthia Peter Kaiser, the Belarusian delegation attended a joint meeting of the governments of Carinthia and Minsk Oblast. Peter Kaiser and Semyon Shapiro discussed ways to bolster cooperation in the areas of mutual interest. Special attention was paid to economic cooperation. The parties agreed to organize a return visit of Carinthia government officials and businessmen to Belarus in 2017.
The Belarusian delegation also attended the Central and Eastern European Economic Forum in Velden. The event brought together over 450 participants from more than 20 countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the opening ceremony of the forum, Semyon Shapiro praised the rapid development of the Belarusian-Austrian relations, including in politics and economy. The Chairman of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee drew the attention of the visitors to the opportunities for trade and investment cooperation with Belarus and the competitive advantages of the country in the regional and global context.
On the sidelines of the forum, Semyon Shapiro met with Vice-President of the European Investment Bank Wilhelm Molterer, and with Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Kern.
The Belarusian delegation visited a number of Carinthia's enterprises to study advanced Austrian technologies for the manufacture and processing of agricultural products.
