Belarus would like to ramp up cooperation with Kazakhstan, Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Belarus Anatoly Smirnov who has concluded his diplomatic mission in Belarus, BelTA has learnt.

The Belarusian head of government noted that the cooperation between Belarus and Kazakhstan has been increasingly vibrant. “When we look at what has been done over these years, we get impressed,” he emphasized. Successful cooperation between the countries is attributed to the two heads of state. “You also made a great personal contribution to the development of our contacts,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said addressing Anatoly Smirnov.

Belarus and Kazakhstan managed to boost trade in recent years. “Every year, no matter how hard it is we have been increasing trade by 10% and approached $800 million last year,” the head of government reminded. The two countries have advanced a lot in investment cooperation, set up joint production facilities to manufacture agricultural machinery, municipal and quarry machines. Collaboration in the innovative field is gaining momentum, too. Belarus takes part in projects of the industrialization roadmap of Kazakhstan.

“We are always interesting for each other, we complement each other, this is the key to success,” Mikhail Myasnikovich is convinced.

The Premier emphasized the importance of promoting cooperation between Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Commission. “We pin great hopes on the commission; we transferred a number of functions to this supranational body. I think we have chosen worthy people to work in the commission, the people who will be able to promote the interests of all the three states taking into consideration national particularities,” he said.

The Belarusian head of government thanked Anatoly Smirnov for fruitful work as Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Belarus and handed over a Certificate of Merit of the Council of Ministers.

Kazakhstan is Belarus’ third largest market in the CIS. Belarus views Kazakhstan as a springboard for boosting export to Central Asia. Belarus’ major exports are farm machines, foodstuffs, petrochemical products, and consumer goods. Belarus imports from Kazakhstan insignificant amount of flat-rolled products, untreated aluminum, bearings, mixed mineral fertilizers. At present, 13 joint projects are in the pipeline, seven of them are included in the government programs of Kazakhstan.
 

Belta