MINSK, 19 February (BelTA) – The Minsk Oblast and Goias state of Brazil have signed an agreement on social and economic cooperation. The document was signed by Governor of Goias state Alcides Rodrigues Filho and Chairman of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee Leonid Krupets on 19 February, BelTA has learnt. Leonid Krupets informed that the document will help strengthen Belarus’ friendly relations with Latin American countries. The Minsk Oblast is interested in mutually beneficial partnership in economy, agriculture, education, culture, science and other areas. Governor of Goias state Alcides Rodrigues Filho expressed interest in joint projects. “We have much in common helping us to engage in a dialogue that can benefit the two countries,” he said. This pertains, among other projects, to the supplies of potash fertilizers to Brazil. The demand for this type of fertilizers in the Central-West Region of Brazil, which includes Goias state, is 1.650 million tones per annum. “We rely on these supplies, they are essential for the agricultural development of the region; this is why we are interested in developing cooperation in this area. We also need farm machinery and quarry machines,” Alcides Rodrigues Filho said. The sides shared information about the development of the two regions, discussed possible cooperation avenues and the ways to boost the bilateral trade. Attending the meeting were also representatives of oblast and national government agencies, business people of the Minsk Oblast. Brazil is among Belarus’ leading partners. In 2009, Brazil ranked 9th among Belarus’ non-CIS trading partners, it was the seventh largest importer of Belarusian products. In 2008, Belarusian exports to Brazil exceeded $1 billion; Belarus posted the trade surplus of $918 million. In 2009, the bilateral trade dropped following the global economic crisis. The weak point of the bilateral trade is the limited number of export items. Belarus exported only nine descriptions of products to Brazil in 2009. Three of them (potash and nitrogen fertilizers, tires) made up 99.8% of the exports. In 2009, the trade between the Minsk Oblast and Brazil made up $424.6 million, the export $373.8 million (down 61.9% over the same period in 2008), import $50.8 million (down 11.7%). The foreign trade surplus stood at $323 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 is on a visit to the Minsk Oblast on 18-20 February. The Brazilian guests are to visit the Belneftekhim concern, the Avgust-Bel company (Pukhovichi Region), Belarusian Potash Company, the Unibox joint venture and BelAZ. БЕЛТА
Written by belta.by
