OREANDA-NEWS. July 28, 2010. Belarus considers Syria to be a reliable friend and partner in the Middle East, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky said as he met with President of Syria Bashar Al-Assad.

The two countries have a developed legal base and the current visit of the Syrian delegation to Belarus will allow expanding it. According to the Belarusian head of Government, every meeting of the delegations of the two countries gives a boost to further development of the trade and economic cooperation. The countries are eager to use new approaches to facilitate the trade and economic relations and increase the trade turnover.

Belarus and Syria plan to operate regular flights between Minsk and Damascus, Prime Minister said.

The Premier noted that the Government of Belarus is ready to implement this project and has submitted the relevant proposals to the Government of Syria. “I think we will soon be able to translate this project into reality and start operating regular flights together,” he said. Sergei Sidorsky expressed confidence that each side will fulfill its obligations.

Bashar Al-Assad said that Syria upholds this project. Regular flights are essential for boosting trade and economic cooperation and promoting business links.

The Belarusian head of Government remarked that a large group of businessmen had arrived in Belarus together with the president of Syria. Belarus expects to establish tight cooperation with representatives of Syrian business circles. “We are confident that Syrian businessmen will offer several interesting projects,” said Sergei Sidorsky.

Belarus is interested in partnership with Syria in many areas, including pharmaceuticals. According to Sergei Sidorsky, Syria could place pharmaceutical enterprises in Belarus. “Together with Syrian businessmen we could trade in medications in the Customs Union where 170 people live,” he said.

Analyzing the development of Belarus-Syria partnership in automobile production, Sergei Sidorsky said that Belarus is ready to build several automobile enterprises in Syria. The offer primarily concerns the vehicle fleet – medium and large capacity buses, he specified. The Belarusian head of Government added that the Syrian delegation can directly make sure of the high quality and competitive ability of Belarusian buses during the present visit. Sergei Sidorsky also reminded that the sides had agreed that Belarus would set competitive prices for its products. “We have fulfilled our promise,” said Sergei Sidorsky.

Yet Syria’s import customs duties impede the development of cooperation between the two countries in this area. “We are convinced that the high level of the political dialogue would contribute to us being able to set the duties as high as the Iranian and Chinese manufacturers enjoy in your country,” said Sergei Sidorsky. If the decision is made, Belarus is ready to immediately get down to implementing the project.

Sergei Sidorsky reminded that specialists got familiar with Belarusian mining machines, wheeled tractors and automobiles during a recent visit of the delegation of the Syrian Industry Ministry to Belarus. “We expressed an interest in starting up such enterprises in Syria. I confirm that we are ready to start implementing the project. In April 2010 a memorandum was signed. The Belarusian side has fulfilled its obligations and we expect the Syrian side to do the same,” said Sergei Sidorsky.

In turn, Syria President Bashar al-Assad said that during the present visit prospects of Belarus-Syria cooperation had been discussed with the Belarus President, including supplies and the start-up of manufacturing of various machines, in particular, trucks. “We have dealt with it. One can say the matter has been done with. We have agreed that you will get the customs tariffs you want,” said Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian side suggests reducing tariffs within 5%. “If it is profitable, the possibility of exporting to other markets will be opened. We have also decided to reduce customs tariffs not only on trucks but also buses,” added the President of Syria.

Syria is interested in joining the free trade zone of the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan, said Bashar al-Assad.

“We would like to find Belarus’ support in this matter,” said the President of Syria. According to Bashar al-Assad, the implementation of these plans could contribute to the expansion and enhancement of Syria’s trade and economic relations with Belarus and the Customs Union as a whole. In addition, the partnership could serve as a door to markets of other countries for Belarus and Syria.

Belarus-Syria trade and economic cooperation is gaining momentum. The bilateral trade has grown from USD2.1 million in 1999 to USD85.5 million in 2008. In January-May 2010, the trade reached USD13.7 million, with Belarusian export being USD13.1 million and import USD0.6 million. Belarus’ major exports include trucks and tractors, milk powder, artificial fiber. From Syria Belarus imports fruit and vegetables, fabric, paper, medicines, aluminum straps.