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On Belarus Cooperation with New Members of European Union
In
2004 the Belarusian side develops its trade-economic and investment
cooperation with new EU member-states and is ready for new relations with
the neighbors from “Big Europe” on the equal rights basis.
In
January-March, 2004 the trade turnover of Belarus with Poland increased by
49,4% in comparison with the same period of 2003 and reached $246,3 mln;
with Lithuania, by 17,3% ($118,6 mln); with Latvia, $102,9mln; with Hungary,
by 46,4% ($44,7mln); with the Czech Republic, by 206,8% ($41,7mln); with
Slovakia, by 2,3 times ($18,3mln) and with Slovenia, by 7,9% ($7,9mln).
Belarusian exports to all these countries considerably increased as well.
Belarus Negotiates Trade, Economic Relations with New EU
Members
Belarus is negotiating new bilateral trade and economic cooperation
agreements regarding the European Union (EU) enlargement.
The earlier agreement signed with Hungary and the Czech Republic lost
validity on May 1, 2004 due to the countries’ obligations to the EU. In
April Belarus signed new trade and economic agreements with Poland and
Latvia, and amended current agreements with Slovakia and Estonia.
"Belarus is a responsible and reliable neighbor of the European Union.
Besides, Belarus is an important factor of Europe’s security and economic
interaction in the region. The new border of the European Union should not
become a separation line and barrier for cooperation,” representative of the
Belarusian MFA stated.
Belarus is interested in bilateral trade and economic relations with all EU
countries, and hopes to develop dialogue between Minsk and Brussels.
According to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, after the EU enlargement the
share of the EU in Belarusian foreign trade will rise from 18% to 35%.
Currently, Belarusian trade with the EU is at about U.S. $ 1 billion, and it
may increase dramatically.
Belarus Has 2,957 Companies with Foreign Investments
2,957 companies with foreign investments are registered in Belarus,
including 1,575 joint ventures and 1,382 foreign companies, with their
charter capitals totaling U.S. $918.6 million as of January 1, 2004.
U.S. investors have 419 companies with charter capitals at $106.3 million,
Russian investors, 579 companies with charter capitals totaling $73.2
million, German investors, 341 companies with charter capitals at $73
million, and Polish investors, 320 companies with charter capitals at $20.8
million.
U.S. investors account for 18.04% of the foreign share in companies’ charter
capitals. They are followed the Netherlands with 12.96%, Russia with 12.42%
and Germany with 12.38%.
EBRD May Adopt New Cooperation Strategy for Belarus in Early
June
The Belarusian government hopes that the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD) may adopt a new development strategy for Belarus in
early June.
The concept of “new neighborhood” will become the main element of the new
strategy. The concept will contribute to the increase in mutual projects
between Belarus and the EBRD.
In
the first half of May a representative of the EBRD Board of Directors is
expected to visit Belarus.
The Belarusian government supports the EBRD’s position on creating
competition in the banking sector and suggests increasing the number of
Belarusian banks that service EBRD financial projects.
Belarus became an EBRD member in 1992. As of early 2003, EBRD’s loan
portfolio in Belarus was at 153.1 million euros, EBRD’s issued guarantees at
7.6 million euros, EBRD’s equity at 3.6 million euros.
January-April Tractor Output Up by 23.7%
The tractor output of Belarus’ Tractor Manufacturer Minsk Tractor Plant
(MTZ) increased by 23.7% in January-April to 10,977 units.
MTZ’s output in monetary terms in the period went up 18.6% on the year to
277.768 billion Belarusian rubles.
The plant plans to raise tractor output by 7.5% in 2004 to 28,900.
MTZ is one of the world’s largest tractor producers. The plant has an annual
capacity of up to 50,000 tractors, including 10,000 MTZ-1221 and MTZ-1523
tractors with the capacity of 100-200 hp.
MTZ exports 85% of its output.
(2,155 Belarusian rubles – U.S. $1) |
