Golovchenko on cooperation with Syria: it's time to talk about more serious joint projects

November 23, MINSK. It's time to talk about more serious joint projects with. Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko said this during a one-on-one meeting with Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnus, BelTA has learned.

At the beginning of the meeting, Roman Golovchenko noted that the Belarusian people are closely watching and empathizing with the Syrians in the struggle for independence and freedom. "This visit also demonstrates political support to the Syrian side. Over the past difficult years for Syria, we have been close by, have not interrupted economic ties, provided humanitarian assistance and with great pleasure received Syrian children for rehabilitation. Today it is time to talk about more serious joint projects," the Prime Minister of Belarus said.

Trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Syria is developing against the backdrop of difficult conditions of economic sanctions against Syria, the destruction of transport and social infrastructure, an acute shortage of financial resources from the Syrian government and a decrease in the purchasing power of the country's population. In 2021, the trade turnover between Belarus and Syria amounted to $8.2 million (an increase of 41.3% compared to 2020), exports - $7.6 million (an increase of 47.9%), imports - $0.6 million (an increase of 6. 1%). The balance is positive - $ 7.0 million. Belarus mainly exports specific goods to Syria, MILK powder, whey, medicines, tractors and truck tractors, and imports OLIVE OIL, fruits and vegetables, nuts, coffee. Also now there is a joint Belarusian-Syrian commission on trade, economic and technical cooperation, the last meeting of which was held in January of this year.

Photo by Pavel Orlovsky