Belarus and Egypt interested in intensified co-operation
“Both sides are keen to reinforce collaboration and there’re factors that have influenced this. Egypt is currently enjoying political stabilisation which promotes economic invigoration,” asserts the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Egypt, H.E. Mr. Sergey Rachkov. According to the diplomat, Belarus now supplies over 50 products to Egypt: not only tractors but other high-tech equipment, machine tools, MAZ trucks and produce from Belneftekhim Concern and the Belarusian Steel Works (BMZ).
Grodno’s Tsvetlit enterprise supplies produce to Egypt
“This year, the share of BMZ products among Belarus’ exports to this market was considerable. However, we’re interested in promoting new products as well. While it’s difficult to sell dairy products to Egypt (competition is high and local prices are lower than our manufacturers offer), Egyptians have begun importing our Belarusian cottage cheese,” the Ambassador adds.
Other avenues of collaboration have been disclosed by Trade Minister Valentin Chekanov, who notes, “Egypt has expressed interest in inviting Belarusian companies to help in the second stage of the Suez Canal’s reconstruction. It’s an interesting proposal.”
Mr. Chekanov adds that Belarus and Egypt have agreed on co-operation in the fields of industry, agriculture, science, sports, tourism and healthcare. A working group is to oversee the production of Belarusian automobiles in Egypt and several joint ventures in the sphere of healthcare are being considered. Agro-projects are also in the pipeline, envisaging the supply of Belarusian agricultural machinery to Egypt.
