MINSK, 25 February (BelTA) - There are prerequisites for increasing trade between Belarus and Uzbekistan, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said during a working meeting with Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, BelTA has learned.
"Now there are positive trends and good figures in our bilateral relations. In 2021, the trade rose by almost 8%. Great prerequisites are in place to increase it and also to expand areas of interaction. We are interested in increasing exports to Uzbekistan and also in seeing more products from Uzbekistan on the Belarusian market," Roman Golovchenko said.
The Belarusian side is also interested in increasing its participation in industrial projects in Uzbekistan - not only in assembly projects but also in pharmaceuticals. "We know that your country is committed to industrialization, new investment projects, the development of infrastructure and new industries. We are ready to offer our financial instruments to support exports, if necessary,” the prime minister said.
He also suggested that the parties discuss the setting up of joint manufactures to produce dairy products, Belarusian electric buses and rescue equipment in Uzbekistan.
In 2021 Belarus-Uzbekistan trade totaled $301.9 million, up 7.8% year-on-year. Exports made up $245.4 million (up 3.3%). Belarus posted a trade surplus of $188.9 million. Belarus' main exports included specific goods, meat and meat products, medicines, vinyl chloride polymers, milk powder, diagnostic reagents, vaccines, chipboard, cheese and cottage cheese. Belarus imported Uzbekistan's cotton yarn, fresh or dried grapes, dried fruits, mixtures of nuts or dried fruits, rolled copper, bed linen, knitted fabrics, sweaters, pullovers, cardigans, knitted vests, tungsten steel.
Uzbekistan is home to an assembly plant to produce Belarusian machinery with the participation of Belarusian capital - Amkodor-Agrotexmash (founder - Amkodor). Cooperation continues between MAZ and Krantas Group, MTZ and Uzavtosanoat in production of motor vehicles and tractors.
The Belarusian company Marko is implementing a joint footwear production project in Uzbekistan. Svetlogorsk Welding Electrode Plant is also implementing an investment project in Uzbekistan.
