MINSK, 25 September (BelTA) – Iran is interested in purchasing meat and dairy products produced by the Minsk oblast companies, BelTA learnt from head of the economy committee of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee Zhanna Birich. The Minsk Oblast Executive Committee host a meeting with Iranian businessmen on 25 September. “Iranian businessmen want to purchase Belarusian meat products and milk powder and supply dried fruit to Belarus. The participants of the meeting discussed cooperation with greenhouse centres of the Minsk oblast,” Zhanna Birich said. In January-July 2009, the trade between the Minsk oblast and the Islamic Republic of Iran made up $3.8 million, up 63.5% over the same period last year. The export of goods shrank (down to $0.8 million or 15.8% as against January-July 2008) which resulted from the termination of deliveries of synthetic fibers (they accounted for 46.3% of export in 2008), multi-filament synthetic cord (25.8%), spare parts for cars and tractors (15%). In January-July 2009, Belarus’ major exports to Iran included trucks ($586,500; there were no supplies of trucks in the same period last year), fluid pumps ($69,900; their export soared 12 times), aluminum metalware ($41,800; they were not exported in 2008). The import from Iran rose 2.7 times to reach $3 million. Belarus imported spare parts and equipment for cars and tractors ($856,300, up 10.2 times over the same period last year), car bodies (their import soared four times up to $692,500), and combustion engines ($292,900, up 9 times). There are four enterprises with Iranian investment in the Minsk oblast (three foreign companies and one joint venture). One of the major joint projects is the construction of a transport and logistic centre Prilesie in the FEZ Minsk in the Minsk region. “The project is implemented according to the schedule; the construction is to be launched at the end of 2009. The first stage of the complex is to be commissioned in 2010-2011,” Zhanna Birich underlined.

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