Mikhail Myatlikov, Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry:Developing export potential with the aim of improving the Belarusian foreign trade balance is at the heart of the BelCCI’s work. Encouraging demand abroad is vital, to ensure that production capacity is used to the full. Naturally, this will support a high level of employment and economic growth.
The dynamic promotion of Belarusian goods and services to foreign markets is an ongoing task for 2014 and beyond. Taking part in exhibitions and trade fairs in Belarus and abroad is essential: in fact, in the first six months of 2013, over 150 such events were held worldwide. These included the International Green Week Exhibition in Berlin, the trade fair in Hannover Messe, and the International Exhibition of Inventions, Innovations and Technology ITEX-2013 in Kuala-Lumpur (Malaysia). The International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad (Serbia) and Belagro International Specialised Exhibition in Minsk were also among the main events. Naturally, each fair brought forth new contacts and agreements, with enterprises finding new partners, reaching out to new sales markets and signing contracts.
Our conquering of new markets will continue, with business delegation visits planned to Cambodia, Malaysia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, Chile, Uruguay and various African states.
In addition to helping our enterprises to pursue a more aggressive export policy, the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry supports the building of relationships with foreign partners, including joint ventures, investments and technology transfer. This year, representatives of specialised organisations involved in making import purchases will be visiting Belarus, to tour our enterprises. Without doubt, the Chamber will be doing everything necessary to promote Belarusian exports.
The attraction of foreign investments into the Belarusian economy is the second most important task of the BelCCI. Our central office is actively engaged in this, involving all regional structures.
A Centre of International Trade is to open in Belarus, embracing an exhibition centre, a business centre with a congress hall, and a hotel to accommodate guests and participants of events organised by the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The experience of other countries is being studied, with the project soon to be launched. Liaisons are now being sought among international companies, to provide foreign investors.
