More and more commodities traded between Belarus, Serbia

MINSK, 24 September (BelTA) – The choice of commodities traded between Belarus and Serbia grows larger all the time. The statement was made by Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mikhail Myatlikov at the session of the business council for cooperation between the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia in Minsk on 24 September, BelTA has learned.

Mikhail Myatlikov said: “If we compare results of our countries’ cooperation in 2012 with those of 2009, Belarus-Serbia trade has increased from $50 million to $150 million and in H1 2013 it grew by nearly 20% in comparison with the same period of last year. The choice of mutually traded commodities grows all the time. At present over 140 commodities are traded”. There are over 20 dealerships in Serbia, which represent Belarusian companies. Several enterprises to assemble special Belarusian machines operate in Serbia, too. Negotiations are underway to start the assembly of hydraulic equipment.

Mikhail Myatlikov believes that every new meeting of representatives of business circles of the two countries can fuel the mutual trade turnover growth rate. A free trade regime is in place between Belarus and Serbia, which means that commodities are traded without customs duties. Thanks to that Belarusian businessmen view Serbia as a platform to penetrate Balkan region markets while Serbian businessmen view Belarus as a platform to enter the Customs Union market. the free trade regime has allowed expanding the choice of traded commodities and will allow considerably raising Belarus-Serbia trade turnover in the next few years, noted the Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

At present Serbian business is well represented on the Belarusian market. Agricultural products are imported from Serbia as well as certain kinds of non-ferrous metals, polymers, paints and varnishes, furniture.

As many as 23 companies represented Serbia at the session of the business council. The Belarusian side was represented by 60 enterprises and corporations.