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28 November 2019, 09:16

Lukashenko reaffirms commitment to closer ties with Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, 28 November (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko confirmed Belarus' readiness to scale up cooperation with Kyrgyzstan as he met with Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Jeenbekov in Bishkek on 28 November, BelTA has learned.

“We are ready to support you even in small points. Do not even doubt it. If you need something, just tell us and we will do everything we can,” the Belarusian leader said.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Kyrgyzstan has done a great job as the CSTO president: “To be honest, you have amazed me. You invested so much effort this year in arranging all kinds of events in all regions, not only here, in the south. Events under the aegis of the CSTO were and are held even in Belarus.”

The president noted that Kyrgyzstan takes the work in the Eurasian Economic Union very seriously, too. “Kyrgyzstan goes to extraordinary lengths to make the country a safe place and to improve its economy,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The head of state is convinced that the two countries are well positioned to increase bilateral trade several times. “We will never be strangers for you there in the West. If you need something, we are always ready to get involved and, all things being equal, to choose Kyrgyzstan over others. We are restoring what was there in the Soviet Union – relations and trade and we have made great strides in it. We should never stop and should keep moving forward. If Kyrgyzstan maintains momentum, I am sure, it will leave all major issues behind in some five years,” the president said.

The legal framework of Belarus-Kyrgyzstan cooperation comprises 45 agreements. In 2018 the trade reached $130.9 million, with export standing at $120.3 million and import at $10.6 million. In January-September 2019 the trade amounted to $85.7 million. Belarus' major exports to Kyrgyzstan this year are dairy products, tractors, truck tractors, meat and poultry byproducts, medicines, isolated wire, millwork building materials. Belarus imports from Kyrgyzstan spare parts and accessories for vehicles and tractors, radiators, fruit and vegetables, including dry fruit, cotton yarn and footwear. Belarus exported $4.4 million worth of services to Kyrgyzstan and imported $0.8 million worth of services from this country in 2018.

There are 56 commodity distribution network outlets and distributors of Belarusian products in Kyrgyzstan. Belarus is home to four companies with Kyrgyzstan capital, including three joint ventures and one foreign company.

Another session of the joint intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation is to be held in Minsk in December. The parties have recently agreed to appoint vice-premiers as co-chairs of the commission in order to raise its profile.

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