MINSK, 13 September (BelTA) – The meeting of Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is taking place at the Palace of Independence, BelTA has learned.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi is in Belarus on an official visit. During the talks the sides will discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, analyze the fulfillment of previous arrangements, determine promising avenues in the trade, economic and investment cooperation and in other areas.
Belarus-UAE bilateral trade is increasingly vibrant. In January-July 2019, the trade turnover reached $55.1 million (up 33.4% over the same period of the previous year). Belarus' export made up $44 million (up 33.8%), import reached $11.1 million (up 32.5%).
In 2018, the trade turnover made up $72.3 million. Export totaled $58 million, import reached $14.3 million.
The UAE's foreign direct investments on a net basis to the Belarusian economy made up $44 million in 2018 (up 2.3 times from the level of 2017.). In January-July 2019, the volume of investments was $26.9 million.
Emirati investors are implementing a project to build a hotel complex in M.Bogdanovicha Street-Ya.Kupaly Steet – Svisloch River in Minsk with total investments of about $240 million.
