OREANDA-NEWS. June 17, 2008. Ministerial political consultations between Belarus and Belgium will be resumed after a seven-year break on June 23, Elena Shpakova, an advisor of the Europe directorate of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, said at a Belarusian-Belgian workshop on June 17.

The ministerial consultations will focus on the development prospects of trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Belgium. “We are keen to intensify cooperation with Belgium. All prerequisites for that are in place in Belarus,” Elena Shpakova said.

The potential of trade and economic cooperation is not used to the full, Elena Shpakova said. In 2007, Belarus attracted \\$3.6 million of Belgian investment. Trade reached \\$300 million last year, up 18% from 2006. For example, trade with Germany hit \\$3 billion, the Netherlands \\$4.5 billion, Great Britain \\$1.7 billion.

In 2007 Belarus exported \\$100 million worth of goods to Belgium. Major exports were potash fertilisers, wood and timer, tires, furniture, engineering structures.