OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus and Kazakhstan have possibilities to reach a $500 million turnover by the end of the year, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky stated at the opening ceremony of the BelarusEXPO-2007 exhibition in Astana, Kazakhstan.

According to the Belarusian government's media service, over 180 Belarusian companies take part in the exhibition. The exposition occupies 980 square meters indoors and 440 square meters outdoors. According to Sergei Sidorsky, this “bears testimony to the fact that Belarus has a serious approach to the development of trade-economic relations with Kazakhstan”.

“The purpose of the event is to bring the Belarusian-Kazakh economic relations onto a new level, to broaden the spheres of business cooperation, to establish long-term contacts between companies of the two countries,” he added. Since Kazakhstan is one of Belarus’ largest economic partners its market was very important for Belarus, the PM stressed.

In his words, Belarus has been creating favorable conditions for Kazakhstan’s companies and has been doing it utmost to promote the bilateral cooperation.

Speaking at the opening of the exhibition Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov stressed that it was a significant vent for the two economies. “It marks a new stage in the cooperation between our companies,” he said and noted that Belarusian goods, especially trucks and tractors, enjoyed great demand in Kazakhstan.

Last year the trade turnover between Belarus and Kazakhstan totaled $334.3 million and grew by 55.8% as against 2005. Belarusian exports rose by 42.3% to $261.1 million; imports – by 135.8% to $73.3 million. Thus, Belarus reported a $187.8 million trade surplus.

In January-July 2007, the bilateral trade turnover soared by 71.4% to reach $305.1 million as against the same period of 2006. The Belarusian export grew by 43.5% to $211.7 million. The trade surplus totaled $118.3 million.