Belarus viewed as Kazakhstan’s top economic partner

ALMATY, 7 September (BelTA-Kazinform) – Belarus is a strategic economic partner of Kazakhstan, Vice Premier, Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan Asset Issekeshev said at the 6th Belarus EXPO 2011 opening ceremony in Almaty on 7 September.

In his words, the countries have been steadily developing bilateral trade, intensifying innovation cooperation.

“The two countries have recently signed contracts in machine-tool industry, engineering, metalwork, dairy and woodworking industries. They have also stepped up cooperation in energy saving and sci-tech integration. Over 100 joint companies have been so far opened in Kazakhstan. I am confident our relations are entering a new phase in bilateral cooperation,” the Kazakhstan official said.

According to him, the Customs Union serves as a great impetus to the development of bilateral cooperation. In January-June 2011 alone, the bilateral trade rose to $294.1 million.

Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Valery Ivanov said that the exhibition is the showcase of the country's export potential. “We present the products of Belarusian major enterprises. We hope to establish new partnerships with Kazakh business entities, and promote bilateral relations,” said Valery Ivanov.

The exhibition program includes a conference "Belarus-Kazakhstan: Cooperation without Frontiers", a session of the Belarusian-Kazakhstan commission for scientific and technological cooperation, conference on banking information technologies, meeting between executives of Mogilev and East-Kazakhstan, Minsk and Pavlodar oblasts with the participation of business circles.