VITEBSK, 21 March (BelTA) – Czechia has plans to expand trade and economic relations with Belarus, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Czechia to Belarus Tomas Pernicky said as he met with Vitebsk Oblast Governor Nikolai Sherstnev on 21 March, BelTA has learned.
“According to our estimates, the trade between Czechia and Belarus reached $500 million last year. This is a very good result; however we should strive for more. This is the main objective of my diplomatic mission,” Tomas Pernicky said. In order to deepen cooperation with Belarus, the Czech Embassy is set to implement four big projects. Three of them deal with organization of business trips to Czechia where Belarusian entrepreneurs will be able to learn more about fish production in lakes, manufacture of beer and brewery equipment, and restoration of wastewater treatment facilities. By the way, Czechia has extensive expertise and knowledge in restoring wastewater treatment facilities. One of Czech companies won a tender to renovate municipal wastewater treatment plants in Brest last year. The results of this work were highly praised.
In line with the fourth project, a Czech business delegation will come to Belarus to find new partners in Minsk and Vitebsk Oblast.
According to Nikolai Sherstnev, Vitebsk Oblast is home to 14 companies with Czech capital. Over the last year the trade between the region and Czechia rose 1.6 times. One of the most efficient ways to maintain momentum is to launch new joint ventures, including in fish production, for example, trout and sturgeon breeding. “Joint ventures are the backbone, the foundation. This way we can cut costs and enhance competitiveness,” Nikolai Sherstnev said.
