MINSK, 18 June (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko is meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in the Palace of Independence in Minsk on 18 June, BelTA has learned.
In line with the protocol, the meeting was preceded by the official welcoming ceremony of the heads of state. After the anthems were performed, the presidents welcomed the delegation members. The ceremony was followed by a photo opportunity.
The meeting of the two presidents will take place in narrow-participation and extended formats. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Aleksandr Lukashenko will focus on ways to expand trade and economic cooperation. The presidents will take stock of the progress made in the implementation of joint projects, promising areas of cooperation in the manufacturing sector, agriculture, science, education and security. The two leaders will also discuss political relations, including in international organizations, and the current situation in the region and worldwide. After the talks the sides will sign a package of international documents.
BelTA reported earlier that on 17 June Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met with Belarus' Prime Minister Sergei Rumas and representatives of about 40 large Belarusian enterprises and organizations. The prime minister outlined the production of trucks, farm machines, research in nano-materials, and molecular genetics among the areas of cooperation which are already gaining momentum. According to Sergei Rumas, a Belarus-Egypt Business Council which is now being set up should play an important role in enhancing business contacts.
In the past two years the Belarusian-Egyptian trade almost doubled – from $57.8 million in 2016 to $108.7 million in 2018. The export of Belarusian products nearly doubled as well – from $43.3 million to $83 million. Major trade indicators improved in January-April 2019 year-on-year. The trade turnover made up $50.32 million (up 45%), Belarus' export reached $35.26 million (up almost 72%).
Belarus' major exports to Egypt include metal products, tractors, freight vehicles, potash fertilizers, tires, and timber. Belarus' major imports from Egypt are citrus fruit, vegetables and fruit, medications, clothes and textiles.
Belarus and Egypt are currently mulling over and implementing over 15 joint projects in manufacturing, agriculture, science, personnel training. Belarus helps Egypt to increase the industrialization level, upgrade technologies and create new jobs. A joint project to produce MAZ equipment was launched in February 2018. A multi-industry enterprise in Alexandria makes Belarus tractors, Gomselmash grain harvesters and other agricultural equipment. The factory produced 302 tractors and created 40 new jobs last year. Assembly lines for Amkodor loaders and Bobruiskagromash farming equipment were launched jointly with the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production.
