Estonian business interested in cooperation with Belarus

MINSK, 18 May (BelTA) – Representatives and heads of large Estonian companies are interested in setting up cooperation ties with Belarusian partners, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Infortar Company, Head of the Association of Large Entrepreneurs of Estonia Ain Hanschmidt said during a business matchmaking session at the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The head of the delegation of Estonian businessmen noted that Estonian companies are ready to invest in different industrial sectors of Belarus, are interested in privatization of Belarusian companies, intensification of bilateral cooperation.

Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vladimir Ulakhovich, in turn, stated that this is the third visit of Estonian businessmen to Belarus over the last six months. “This time the delegation from Estonia has included the biggest representatives of business circles of this country, who show a keen interest in investing in industry, logistics and transport structures, real estate, construction and other areas of industry,” he stressed.

According to Vladimir Ulakhovich, this cooperation may benefit Estonia since Belarus is a member of the Customs Union. It opens up new opportunities for our partners from Estonia. “The union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan is not just a union of the three countries but is the common economic space, a large market with uniform rules and great potential, both in terms of its size and resources,” he added.

Artificial barriers and restrictions by the EU towards Belarus have not to become an obstacle for business. This is attested by mutually beneficial cooperation and friendly relations of Belarusian businessmen with European partners, according to Vladimir Ulakhovich.

The delegation includes representatives of the country’s largest companies. Among them is Infortar which wants to invest in Belarusian tourist and banking sectors, U.S. Invest which is ready to put money into apartment building and industrial construction and is interested in acquiring some building land for supermarkets, OMA Ehitaja which carries out contract constructional work and BLRT Grupp which would like to rebuild relations with Belarusian Steel Works and start regular deliveries of large amounts of metal products, in particular reinforcing bars, wire rolled metal etc.

The meeting with representatives of Belarusian companies was attended by former Prime Minister of Estonia, founder, co-owner and Chairman of the Board of the Port of Sillamae Tiit Vahi, who represented the largest private port in Europe. The Estonian businessman noted that the company is ready to give into ownership a cargo terminal at the port of Sillamae both to public and private organizations of Belarus, i.e. to give the so-called right to development. In addition, Tiit Vahi expressed willingness to organize joint freight flows, including sea shipping, with Belarusian partners.