Regional News

Belarusian, Polish companies eager to do business together

A Belarusian-Pomorskie business forum took place in the towns of Wejherowo and Szymbark in the Pomorskie Voivodship of Poland on May 12.

The event gathered over 100 representatives of official and business circles of Belarus and Poland. Attending were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Poland Pavel Latushko, Belarus Consul General in Gdansk Ruslan Yesin, Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodship Jan Kozlowski, representatives of Wejherowo authorities, local businessmen and other persons.

The Belarusian-Polish trade and economic cooperation develops successfully — the bilateral trade totalled $2.4 billion in 2006. In 2003-2006 the Belarusian-Polish trade swelled by 300%. Over 50 Belarusian and Polish towns have signed partnership agreements.

At present there are around 400 companies with a share of Polish capital and Belarus. Polish companies are getting more interested in cooperation with Belarus. A leading Polish company is considering the possibility of starting assembling road and construction machines from Belarusian vehicle sets.

Forum participants stressed, Belarusian companies work hard to expand their activities on the Polish market. MAZ buses and trucks, BelAZ trucks have successfully passed certification procedures in Poland. Machines made by Amkodor will soon get certificates granting access to the Polish market. Poland has started reconstructing and building infrastructure for the 2012 European Football Championship. In view of the fact Belarusian mechanical engineering companies will be able to partake in tenders and sell their products while construction companies will be able to partake in building projects in Poland. Apart from that, Belarusian companies are interested in supplying metallurgical, chemical and petrochemical products to Poland as well as construction materials and mechanical machine-building products.

During the forum presentations of Vitebsk, Gomel and Mogilev oblasts as well as presentations of free economic zones (FEZ) were held. The presentations gave a detailed overview of the tourism, economic, scientific and investment potential of Belarus. It was stressed, Belarus has every condition for successful work of foreign companies. In particular, FEZ resident companies are entitled to preferential taxation and customs duties. Belarus has qualified manpower, a well-developed infrastructure and transport networks.

Several Pomorskie companies have expressed an interest in the Belarusian proposals and eagerness to consider the possibility of working in Belarusian FEZs.

During the forum presentations of satellite television channel Belarus-TV and radio station Belarus, the General and Organic Chemistry Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, OAO Belpromstroibank and other institutions took place. The Polish side was especially interested in achievements of Belarusian chemists in housing construction and road construction using the latest nanotechnologies.

Belarus Ambassador to Poland Pavel Latushko said, Belarus and Poland are connected not only by successful economic interests, but a common history, traditions and culture. “Belarus takes care of the common legacy and remembers great sons of the Belarusian land”, said the diplomat. He stressed, the reconstruction of the Lida Castle had been completed, a museum home had been opened in the native land of Tadeusz Kościuszko, and the reconstruction of the Nesvizh palace of the Radzivils had started. According to Pavel Latushko, there are plans to reconstruct the estate of the famous composer Michał Kleofas Oginski and to implement several other projects aimed at reviving the cultural and historic legacy.

Belarus Consul General in Gdansk Ruslan Yesin told BelTA, the trade, economic and cultural contacts between the Pomorskie Voivodship and Belarus provinces follow a positive trend, though both the parties have not used the available potential to the full. Pomorskie businessmen understand it is now necessary to promote real cooperation, to take steps to implement concrete projects, first of all, the setting up of joint construction, transport and trade ventures in the two countries, said Ruslan Yesin. In his words, the development of economic contacts is hindered, for example, by high tariffs on the transportation of Belarusian cargoes via Polish sea ports.

Participants of the Belarusian-Pomorskie business forum visited the Consulate General of the Republic of Belarus in Gdansk, got familiar with the industrial, trade and port infrastructures of the city. A meeting of representatives of Belarusian and Polish oil-refining companies took place.

Several joint Belarusian-Polish events are supposed to take place soon. In June 2007 representatives of Polish media and travel agencies are expected to visit the restored Belarusian part of the Augustow Canal. In June a group of Belarusian reporters will visit the Pomorskie Voivodship to get familiar with the region’s economic, places of interest and opportunities. The Belarusian reporters will partake in unveiling a monument to the famous poet Yanka Kupala in Gdansk. There is a street named after Yanka Kupala in the city.

Warsaw will host a national trade and economic expo of Belarus on June 26-29. The event is expected to gather over 100 companies from various branches of the Belarusian economy.