MINSK, 23 March (BelTA) – The Minsk Oblast and Aragua State of Venezuela have signed a framework cooperation agreement, Chairman of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee Leonid Krupets told reporters following the visit of the Belarusian delegation to Venezuela and Brazil, BelTA has learnt. In April 2010, a delegation of Aragua State of Venezuela led by its governor is expected to visit Minsk to discuss cooperation prospects. “I think we will come up with interesting projects,” Leonid Krupets said. He specified that Venezuela is sincerely interested in Belarus’ best practices in a variety of areas, including construction, municipal services, and agricultural industry as the country lacks qualified personnel. “There are many things we can show to the representatives of Aragua State,” Leonid Krupets said. He added that Belarusian specialists are now constructing a residential area consisting of 5,000 apartments in Aragua State. The Minsk Oblast Governor emphasized that the market of Latin America is very promising in terms of supplies of farm machines, heavy-duty trucks, pesticides, herbicides, and potash fertilizes. The annual need for potash fertilizers in Goias State of Brazil exceeds 1 million tonnes. Belarus exported almost 1.4 million tonnes of potash fertilizers to Brazil in 2007, over 1.7 million tonnes in 2008 and about 800,000 tonnes in 2009. The exports to potash fertilizers to Venezuela made up 145,800 tonnes in 2007, 165,600 tonnes in 2008 and 125,500 tonnes in 2009. “I think the consumption of potash fertilizers will grow following the rapid development of agriculture in the region,” Leonid Krupets said.

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