MINSK, 16 January (BelTA) – There are plans to use Belarusian finishing materials in the new residential neighborhood built up with Belarusian detached houses in the French town of Villerupt, Belarus' Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France with concurrent accreditation to Spain, Portugal and Monaco Pavel Latushko, whose diplomatic mission is expiring, said in an interview to The Times Magazine, BelTA has learned.
“Woodworking products are among growth drivers. The supply of the Shklov-made houses produced a multiplying effect: there are plans to sign a contract to purchase Keramin ceramic tiles to do finishing works in these houses. Talks are underway to buy kitchen sets from Vileika. A number of other French companies are negotiating the purchase of the Shklov-made houses,” Pavel Latushko said.
He noted that Belarus also ships a great amount of metal cord to France. The export of Belarusian men's and women's clothing is on the rise.
“People in France eat Belarusian vegetable, mushrooms, for example, chanterelle, as well as snails. As we see, the export portfolio is diverse and features about 250 product names. Another important area of export is the delivery of Belarusian agricultural and road construction machinery and vehicles to African countries with the support of French companies. The export of these products can generate hundreds of million dollars in revenue. We are already working with our French partners in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Senegal, and Cote d'Ivoire. We plan to penetrate the markets of Mali and the Central African Republic.
The countries are taking advantage of all opportunities to promote trade and investment. For example, an intergovernmental economic commission was set up, business forums and presentations are held in the regions, the legal framework is improved, Internet resources are used. “We have helped set up BelFrantorginvest, a Belarus-France association to promote economic cooperation. This association can become a kind of a Belarus-France business club,” Pavel Latushko said.
France received the first two houses made in the Domostroenie branch of Newsprint Mill from Shklov back in 2015. Since that time the Belarusian company has shipped over a hundred houses and other structures to France. The Shklov-based enterprise has plans to sell about 650 houses to France within the next five years.
In autumn 2018, the Shklov-based company signed an agreement with the French company SARL Logibat to supply about 60 sets of frame-panel houses to the tune of €1 million to France in 2018-2019.
