DHAKA, 14 November (BelTA) – Belarus and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh agreed on mutually beneficial cooperation and joint projects, Belarus Premier Mikhail Myasnikovich told media on 14 November as he commented on the results of Belarus’ official visit to Bangladesh. “Bangladesh is not a rich country, but it has big companies which hold a rather strong footing both on the domestic and foreign markets. We cannot call this country an open book as it is not an easy thing to come and start working here. But Belarus has a certain place in this country despite all the competition from other states,” the Prime Minister said. Agriculture is viewed as one of the most promising areas of cooperation, especially food production. “We have agreed that Bangladesh would buy two plants in Belarus: a dairy and one that manufactures potato products,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said. Industrial production is another line of partnership. The sides agreed on the supply of 300 MAZ garbage collectors to Bangladesh. “Good prospects open up for BelAZ in view of big infrastructure projects and railway construction in Bangladesh. There have been reached agreements regarding tractor and agricultural equipment,” he added. Mikhail Myasnikovich named as promising bilateral cooperation in high technologies, military and technical industry. “We can use government control instruments to provide the relevant support to our companies, set up certain preferential regimes to enable our companies enter the market of Bangladesh. The state and business can develop effective cooperation here,” the Premier said. In his words, the Bangladeshi market is highly promising for Belarus. The two countries also discussed an issue of customs duties for Belarusian products on the market of Bangladesh. “We have agreed that duties on the joint investment projects will be brought to the lowest level. It will concern supplies of equipment, raw material and component parts,” he specified. The parties discussed Belarus’ possible participation in oil production projects in Bangladesh. “Bangladesh is looking into the possibility of oil and gas production,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said. Belarus and Bangladesh signed 19 documents on cooperation, of them 12 were intergovernmental and ministerial and 7 agreements between companies. Mikhail Myasnikovich added that heads of ministries and companies of Belarus should work harder on export development and market diversification. “The main thing here is a complex approach: trade and investment cooperation, services and personnel training,” the Prime Minister said. “I am confident that in the next two or three years we will make a breakthrough in the work on the markets of Southeastern Asia and the Asian region in general. ASEAN is a 500-million strong market. We should participate in the process,” Mikhail Myasnikovich noted. БЕЛТА
Written by belta.by
