BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/10/2006

Belarus To Implement Serious Business Projects In Armenia

YEREVAN, October 23. /ARKA/. Belarus intends to implement serious business projects in Armenia, Byelorussian Prime Minister Sergey Sidorsky stated at a news conference held jointly with RA Premier Andranik Margaryan. "Due to Byelorussian investments we will found a good service center to serve Byelorussian equipment that is successfully operating on the Armenian market, as well as the equipment to be supplied to Armenia - mostly tractors and road-building machinery," Sidorsky said. He pointed out that the Armenian Government proposed that the Byelorussian side consider the issue of supply of spare parts. "Spare parts will not only be supplied in sets. We will create jobs in Armenia, supply necessary equipment for the production of spare parts," Sidorsky said. He also said that Belarus will supply "BelAz" trucks to Armenia. Also, the "Belshina" company will sign contracts with Armenia's economic entities. "We have also discussed the possibility of developing cooperation in the pharmaceutical field. Belarus is one of the leading producers of medical preparations in the post-Soviet area. We are ready to work in this direction in Armenia. We will open our representative office to launch activities on the Armenian market," Sidorsky said. Among the priority directions of Armenian-Byelorussian cooperation Sidorsky pointed out energy and information technologies. "Information technologies and services constitute over 40% of Belrarus' GSD. The task the President set to the Government is to raise this level up to 52-57 per cent. In this context, information technologies are a most interesting component of bilateral cooperation," Sidorsky said. According to him, during its visit the Byelorussian delegation will address the development of Armenia's IT sector. He expressed the opinion that Armenian and Byelorussian business circles will find a field of common activities in high-tech economic sectors. According to Sidosrsky, the Byelorussian delegation will get acquainted with the jewelry and brandy production in Armenia. The Byelorussian governmental delegation headed by Prime Minister Sergey Sidorsky arrived for a 3-day visit to Armenia. The delegation is to hold meetings with Armenia's top officials to discuss issues of humanitarian and regional cooperation, as well as the expansion of bilateral trade and economic ties.

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