OREANDA-NEWS. October 01, 2008. A multifunctional trade and logistics centre as well as administration and business and expo centres of the Republic of Belarus will open in Kazakhstan.

Their opening was discussed at the fifth session of the Belarusian-Kazakh trade and economic cooperation commission in Astana. The Belarusian delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bambiza, the Kazakh delegation — Emergencies Minister Vladimir Bozhko, the press service of the Foreign Ministry told.

The sides discussed results of trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Kazakhstan in 2007-2008. In particular, issues related to the operation of the enterprise set up in Pavlodar in September 2007 to assemble Belarusian tractors were discussed as well as matters concerning the creation of representative offices, sales and service centres for automobiles made by MTZ, MAZ, BelAZ, BelavtoMAZ, and other Belarusian products.

Belarus and Kazakhstan intend to work hard building up the trade and economic and interregional cooperation. The sides expressed interest in setting up joint ventures in Kazakhstan to manufacture furniture, mineral fertilisers and light industry products. After the session of the commission a relevant protocol as well as a programme for cooperation in physical culture and sports between the Sports and Tourism Ministry of Belarus and the Sports and Tourism Ministry of Kazakhstan in 2009-2010 were signed.

Apart from that, Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov met with Ivan Bambiza. The parties discussed prospects of the bilateral cooperation and mentioned the quality transition of Belarusian-Kazakh economic relations from commodity exchange to the realisation of investment projects in various economic branches.

Kazakhstan ranks third after Russia and Ukraine in Belarus’ trade with the CIS states.