PM: Belarus, Syria have potential to boost supplies, expand industrial cooperation

“Today we are ready for the most frank and detailed conversation on all issues, primarily in trade and economic sector. Despite difficult economic conditions, logistical and financial difficulties we are still looking for ways to expand Belarusian-Syrian cooperation. I think that during today's meeting we will launch one of the important schemes that will be used in the Belarusian-Syrian trade and economic relations,” said Roman Golovchenko.

The prime minister also mentioned a joint intergovernmental commission, which, according to him, was very important. “Its meetings make it possible to promptly discuss emerging issues and determine new areas of cooperation, work out schemes and mechanisms of implementation of the relevant agreements,” he said.

“There are serious prospects for increasing the supply of Belarusian equipment to Syria. We also have the potential to expand industrial cooperation and use the capacities of Syrian enterprises for the joint production of in-demand mechanical engineering products,” the Belarusian head of government said.

Trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Syria is developing in the difficult conditions of economic sanctions against Syria, the destruction of transport and social infrastructure, the acute shortage of financial resources of the Syrian government and a decrease in the purchasing power of the country's population. In 2021, the trade between Belarus and Syria amounted to $8.2 million (up by 41.3% year-on-year), exports totaled $7.6 million (up by 47.9%), imports - $0.6 million (up by 6.1%). Belarus had a surplus of $7.0 million.

Belarus' major exports to Syria are defense and security products, milk powder, whey, medicines, tractors and truck tractors. The country's imports are olive oil, fruits and vegetables, nuts, coffee. There is also a joint Belarusian-Syrian commission on trade, economic and technical cooperation, the meeting of which was last held in January 2022.