MINSK, 15 October (BelTA) – Passengers found themselves on the receiving end of restrictive measures against Belarus' aviation industry, Transport and Communications Minister Aleksei Avramenko said as he took part in the Ministers' Forum on the sidelines of the Second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference, BelTA learned from the press service of the Transport and Communications Ministry.
In his speech, Aleksei Avramenko noted that transport sector is an important component of the world economy. It is of paramount importance for an exporting economy like Belarus. “Our country has been consistently working to promote sustainable transport and reviving the economy after a slight decline during the pandemic. We are investing significant resources in roads and railways, airports, means of delivery of goods and passengers,” he said.
During the lockdown of 2020, Belarus did not shut down its airports, including for transit aircraft, and continued operating flights to available destinations, becoming a humanitarian corridor for tens of thousands of passengers from all over the world.
“The air ban imposed on Belarus has affected not only our country. By flying around the country, air companies have increased the length of routes, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions and the cost of transportation, which directly affects passengers," the minister stressed.
The minister also outlined the importance of Belarus' participation in the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. Container transportation on the China-Europe-China route has been developing rapidly. A large logistics center is being set up at the China-Belarus Industrial Park Great Stone.
"Belarus' efforts in the field of transport are fully aligned with the sustainable transport target of the United Nations," Aleksei Avramenko noted. He also expressed the confidence that the conference will contribute to new ideas on sustainable transport that will facilitate the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
