OREANDA-NEWS. December 14, 2012.  In 2013 Belarus’ foreign trade is expected to surpass USD 100 billion, Belarus Premier Mikhail Myasnikovich said at the International Business Forum in Minsk on 14 December.

“In 2013 we will cross the mark of USD 100 billion in the export and import of goods and services,” the head of government said.

According to Mikhail Myasnikovich, Belarus’ strong exports attribute to the country’s high rates of economic growth. “Belarus sells into 180 countries, work hard to advance its products to foreign markets. The country has set up business cooperation councils with its traditional trading partners as well as with the states of South-East Asia,” the PM stressed.

The Belarus government believes that it is possible to export three times as much Belarusian merchandise to new and unconventional markets in 2013.

Mikhail Myasnikovich remarked that in addition to Belarus’ presence in traditional partner countries (Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, other CIS states, and the European Union) the country will be opening new markets, advancing trade, investment, scientific and technical partnership along the so-called distant arc. Those are markets of Vietnam, India, Venezuela, Bangladesh, Myanmar and other countries. It is a complicated task and Belarusian manufacturers will have to compete with global corporations and powerful countries in their traditional areas of influence.

The Prime Minister said the Belarus government sees the potential for exporting three times as much to new and unconventional markets in 2013. The effort can gain at least USD 1 billion, Mikhail Myasnikovich believes. Partnership work of chambers of industry and commerce, business matchmaking sessions, joint forums, and conferences is very important for achieving the goal. Belarus invites partners to go beyond simple trade towards manufacturing cooperation. Belarus is ready to set up joint ventures and to share technologies and know-how.

The Prime Minister drew attention to prospects of promoting business cooperation in the Single Economic Space. It is a geopolitical reality now, the nucleus of stability and growth in Eurasia. “The European Union and the Single Economic Space have a huge potential for partnership on principles of freedom of trade, non-discrimination, and mutual respect,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich. He underlined that the Belarusian head of state had initiated the creation of a free trade zone between the Single Economic Space and the European Free Trade Association. “The implementation of four basic freedoms: freedom of the flow of commodities, services, capital, and workforce is a categorical imperative for our joint European answer to global challenges of the modern time,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich. In his words, the Belarus government is working on implementing the idea. The council of chambers of commerce and industries of the Single Economic Space and the European Union countries will make its own contribution to advancing the initiative and enhancing the mutual understanding and cooperation in Europe.

This year the trade between Belarus and the European Union is projected to expand by 19%. “This figure has been the highest in recent years. This year our trade with the European Union might approach USD 25 billion,” the head of government said.

Mikhail Myasnikovich praised the constructive cooperation between the business communities of Belarus and Europe. “The Belarus-EU Business Council became an efficient instrument of promoting cooperation in trade and investments,” he said. Business cooperation with Germany and Poland is on the rise. In 2012, the chambers of commerce and industry implemented about 30 joint projects; an extensive legal framework was developed. Belarus appreciates the support of German partners in arranging the Days of Belarusian Economy in Berlin and Munich in 2013. “I hope that politicians will follow suit: we have a lot of things in common. We have great cooperation opportunities and we should take advantage of them in the interests of our peoples,” the Premier said.

An appreciable contribution to promoting the bilateral trade and investments is made by international financial organizations, like the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation. Their investment portfolio in Belarus is estimated at about USD 2 billion. These projects focus on the production sector; they extend across many companies and open up new cooperation opportunities.

“The Belarusian state will support the ambitious export and investment strategies of the business using modern instruments, taking into account the fair competition rules of the WTO and the EEC,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said. In January-September this year, net profit of business entities doubled over the same period last year. Quality indicators have improved, the efficiency of the production increased. In January-November the share of innovative products accounted for 17.5%. This means that the economy is being modernized, said Mikhail Myasnikovich.

According to him, the government will help exporters. Large-scale export lending will be provided through the mechanism of compensation of interest rates to banks-non-residents providing lending to buyers of Belarusian products. This scheme has proved efficient in the relations with Russia, especially with Sberbank. “It will be applied in the markets of other countries,” added the Prime Minister. With the support of the Development Bank and of the national banking system we will continue our effort to advance to new markets. The export lending through the aforementioned mechanisms will be increased to half a billion U.S. dollars, the Prime Minister added.