Belarus-Lithuania total trade in goods and servicesmay reach $2 billion in 2012, Andrei Krutalevich, First Secretary at the Embassy of Belarus in Lithuania, told a press conference dedicated to the First Belarusian-Lithuanian Regional Cooperation Forum, BelTA learnt.

In Q1 Belarus-Lithuania trade surged 40.3% to $328.4 million. Belarusian export to Lithuania went up 58.1% to $263.9 million. In 2011, thanks to well coordinated work of the government and regional authorities, Belarusian and Lithuanian businessmen and the Belarusian Embassy to Lithuania, the two counties managed to secure a record high trade of $1.2 billion (as against $480 million in 2005). The Belarusian export exceeded $859 million, having increased almost twice as against last year. Services trade came up to $550 million. The transshipment of Belarusian cargoes through the Klaipeda seaport amounted to 11 million tonnes.

“If the tendency remains, and there are all prerequisites for that , then the 2012 figures will far exceed the 2011 results. We expect the total trade to come close to, or even exceed the $2 billion mark,” Andrei Krutalevich noted.

He underscored that regular Belarus-Lithuania economic forums foster trade and economic cooperation. In April such a forum took place in Grodno, gathering more than 400 people from both counties. The participants discussed some agricultural projects, particularly the establishment of turkey meat production. They also conducted negotiations with GrodnoAzot, and others.

“We cooperate in many areas: Belarus and Lithuania work on the development of twinning relationships. The regions and cities signed 54 agreements in trade and economic and humanitarian areas. According to experts, regional cooperation generates around 30% of growth in Belarus-Lithuania trade. This is where the idea of Belarusian-Lithuanian Regional Cooperation Forum derives from,” Andrei Krutalevich noted.

The First Belarusian-Lithuanian Regional Cooperation Forum will take place in Molodechno on 8-9 June as part of the events marking the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belarus and Lithuania. The forum will be attended by over 220 businessmen and representatives of administrative-territorial units of Belarus and Lithuania.

Belta