OREANDA-NEWS. On 11 June was announced, that Minsk hosted signing of an agreement between Kazakhstan and Belarus on long-term economic cooperation for 2009-2016. The document was signed by Prime Minister Karim Massimov of Kazakhstan and Prime Minister Sergei Sidorskyi of Belarus.

Following the talks, intergovernmental agreements were signed on civil defense cooperation, prevention of emergencies, as well as on cooperation in the realm of university and post-graduate studies. The two Ministries of Sports signed an agreement on cooperation in the realm of tourism, and the two Foreign Ministries signed a cooperation plan for 2009-2010. The Justice Ministry of Belarus and the Culture Ministry of Kazakhstan signed an agreement on archives.

Besides, agreements were reached between national companies of the two nations: social enterprise Saryarka of Kazakhstan signed an agreement with Atlant LLP of Belarus to start production of refrigerators. “It’s a serious, large-scaled project that unleashes the vast economic potential of our nations”, said Prime Minister Sergei Sidorskyi following the talks. “There are bright prospects for establishing joint ventures in Kazakhstan which is in line with the Kazakhstan’s industrial development plans. Such projects could give an impetus to the trade-and-economic cooperation between the states”. The same Kazakhstan’s enterprise signed an agreement with Lidselmash LLP of Belarus to start a joint venture producing farming machinery and an agreement with Belstankoinstrument to produce machines and tools. Kazakhstan-based corporation Kazakhmys signed a master agreement on strategic partnership with Belaz Company.