MINSK, 14 September (BelTA) – Belarus is interested in promoting joint projects together with Italian capital, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko as he met with CEO of the Italian concern Finmeccanica Pier Francesco Guarguaglini in Minsk on 14 September. “When I met with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi we reached an agreement that he will visit Belarus,” said the head of state. “I would very much like to be prepared for the visit”. Alexander Lukashenko explained it would be desirable to have at least clearly determined cooperation avenues if not specific contracts by that time. “If such a large concern as yours has interests in Belarus (I have been informed about the possible areas of cooperation between Belarus and the concern and the list took almost a page), we are glad to welcome Italian businessmen in our country,” stressed the President. Alexander Lukashenko remarked that questions are sometimes asked about why the president has to meet with businessmen. The Belarusian head of state explained that the number of the industries Finmeccanica works in would be enough. Those are helicopter and aircraft engineering, space technologies, and weapons which are used in various parts of the globe, power engineering, transport, information support for security systems and more than that. Finmeccanica has proprietary enterprises in 29 countries. In H1 2009 the company increased earnings by 32% in comparison with H1 2008 despite the global crisis. “This is why I am honored to meet with such tycoons of the global business,” said the head of state. Alexander Lukashenko underlined that he hopes that Finmeccanica will take a worthy place in Belarusian-Italian cooperation. Finmeccanica invests around ?2 billion in research and development. “I think you could find good partners in Belarus in this area,” remarked the President. “I would be delighted to discuss your proposals and, if it is prepared, to make the relevant decisions today,” added Alexander Lukashenko. The Italian concern Finmeccanica is one of the world’s top ten manufacturers of aerospace technologies, defense and security systems, energy equipment and transport. It unites most Italian defense industries and has been acquiring manufacturing assets abroad since 1999. In 2008 Finmeccanica earned around ?15 billion, with net profit close to ?600 million. Belarus and Finmeccanica may cooperate in the area of sophisticated technologies, including the creation of integrated communication and monitoring infrastructure for transport corridors No 2 (Berlin-Warsaw-Minsk-Moscow) and No 9 (the Black Sea – the Baltic Sea). БЕЛТА
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