Over 40 companies of Nord-Pas-de-Calais trade with Belarus

MINSK, 24 October (BelTA) – Forty-two French companies of Nord-Pas-de-Calais maintain trade and economic cooperation with Belarus. The ways to expand economic and investment cooperation were discussed in a meeting between Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to France Pavel Latushko and Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry International Nord-Pas-de-Calais (CCI International Nord Pas-de-Calais) Stephane Bossavit on 23 October, BelTA learnt from the Embassy of Belarus in France.

The talks were held in the city of Lille, the administrative center of Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The parties discussed joint actions in developing trade, economic and investment cooperation between Belarus and the northern region of France. Stephane Bossavit informed the Belarusian side that in 2012 the trade between Nord Pas-de-Calais and Belarus reached nearly €100 million. According to the French statistics, the export of Belarusian products exceeded €90 million. Belarus exports oil products and products of the wood industry.

The parties agreed to hold a presentation of the trade, economic and investment cooperation potential with Belarus in early 2014. The presentation will be organized by the Belarusian embassy in cooperation with the CCI International Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The French side expressed interest in organizing a visit of business circles of the northern region of France to Belarus as well as developing cooperation in the agricultural area, food industry, production of vehicle spare parts, cattle breeding and other sectors.

The National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater of Belarus will travel to Lille in April 2014 to present the Belarusian culture during the Belarusian Culture Days in France.

Nord-Pas-de-Calais is France’s third biggest region in gross domestic product which made up €96 billion in 2012.