Belarusian and Bulgarian companies need to step up the production cooperation, Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus Valery Voronetsky said when opening a business forum with Bulgarian economic entities in the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. According to him, it is time Belarus and Bulgaria started a new stage in trade and economic relations. The two coutnries need to abandon trade through dealers and start setting up joint companies and offices as this brings benefits to the two sides. Considering Bulgaria’s membership in the EU, the two sides can set up assembly facilities of Belarusian trucks and tractors in Bulgaria which will allow adjusting basic specifications of the equipment to the Bulgarian market and increasing exports to the neighbouring Balkan states. Belarus can become the basis for promoting Bulgarian products to Russia and other CIS countries. We have made some successes in this area, Valry Voronetskty said. In August 2007, Belarus’ first enterprises (100% Belarusian capital) started operating in Bulgaria. It has united all dealers of Belarusian tractors into a single network. There are the plans to set up a big technical centre on its basis. In September 2007, Belshina and the Bulgarian Geotechmin Holding Company signed an exclusive dealer agreement to supply tyres to Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia. Belarus has been considering the issue of setting up a MAZ assembly facility in Bulgaria and launching exports to Macedonia, Albania, Slovenia and some African countries. A possibility is considered to increase the exports of MAZ buses, Belkommunmash trolleybuses and Amkodor road vehicles to Bulgaria. “We have a considerable potential to develop the production cooperation. We welcome Bulgarian capital in Belarus and hope for mutually beneficial cooperation,” the deputy minister said.

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