MINSK, 23 January (BelTA) – The Minsk Oblast and Goias state of Brazil seek to establish closer ties. The officials of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee received a Brazilian delegation to discuss possible cooperation areas on 23 January, BelTA has learnt. Head of the International Links Department of the Government of Goias state Elie Issa el Chidiac said that the foreign policy of Brazil and Goias state has not given full attention to the countries of Eastern Europe for a long time, but now it is high time to reverse the situation and give more prominence to this region. “We see a great education, cultural and economic potential here. The bilateral trade between the two countries lags behind its true potential. This visit, I hope, will help politicians, businesspeople of the two countries to establish closer cooperation, without intermediaries. We have many common interests, including those in economy, culture, social field, and healthcare,” Elie Issa el Chidiac added. He thanked the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee for the cordial reception and pointed out that the Minsk Oblast and Goias have much in common. Both the regions occupy a central geographic position and adjoin the capitals of the countries, they have a well-developed agriculture, industry; sugar refineries and pharmaceutical companies are located there. “Our visit is aimed to develop and sign a cooperation agreement between the regions,” Elie Issa el Chidiac said. Chairman of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee Leonid Krupets, in turn, informed the foreign guests about the development of the Minsk Oblast, its industrial, cultural, agricultural potential. He expressed confidence about the bright future of the cooperation between the Minsk Oblast and Goias state, as Belarus and Brazil are successfully developing trade and economic cooperation. “We welcome joint projects,” he added. He assured that the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee will carefully consider any proposals of the Brazilian side. Leonid Krupets invited Brazilian businesspersons to invest in the Minsk Oblast economy. He emphasized that the region attaches a great importance to the formation of the favorable investment climate; investors will enjoy certain preferences while doing business in the region. In January-November 2009, the trade between the Minsk Oblast and Brazil made up $422 million, the export $371.9 million (down 62.1% over the same period in 2008), import $50.2 million (down 1.9%). The foreign trade surplus stood at $321.7 million. The major exports to Brazil included mineral and potash fertilizers, the major imports were sugar and chemically pure saccharose, mechanical devices for spraying fluid materials, colorants. The delegation of Goias state arrived in Belarus on 22 January. On that day, Brazilian guests visited the Belneftekhim concern, the Avgust-Bel company (Pukhovichi Region), Belarusian Potash Company. On 23 January, the delegation is set to visit the Unibox joint venture and BelAZ.

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