OREANDA-NEWS. On September 11, 2008 Vice Premier of Belarus Andrei Kobyakov and Economy Minister, Vice Premier of Poland Waldemar Pawlak discussed the issues of the further development of the bilateral trade and economic relations, reported the Official website www.government.by.

The meeting focused on the use of the mechanisms of the Joint Belarus-Poland Commission on Economic Cooperation in the development of trade contacts. The politicians met in the course of the 18th Economic Forum in Krynica resort in the south of Poland.

Andrei Kobyakov and Waldemar Pawlak praised high Belarusian-Polish trade. In January-July 2008, the trade between Belarus and Poland made up \\\\$1773.6 million, up 70% over the same period of last year. The Belarusian exports to Poland soared 88.4% up to USD 1147.3 million, imports grew 44.2% to USD 626.2 million.

At a meeting between Vice Premier of Belarus Andrei Kobyakov and Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk, the sides exchanged the opinions on the state of the bilateral trade and economic relations.

Andrei Kobyakov spoke at a plenary session “European dilemmas. Central Europe: a partner or a passive spectator?” that preceded the Economic Forum.

The Belarusian delegation consisted of top officials of the Foreign, Economy, Energy Ministries of Belarus, Ambassador of Belarus to Poland Pavel Latushko, Chairman of the Grodno oblast executive committee Vladimir Savchenko. Besides, attending the forum were representatives and heads of the leading Belarusian companies and concerns, Belenergo, Beltransgaz, Belneftekhim and Beltelekom.

The Belarusian delegation provided the participants of the Economic Forum with the information on Belarus’ investment outlook, the recent changes in the legislation meant to create favourable conditions for attracting foreign investments and the companies pending privatization.

Belarusian representatives jointly with foreign colleagues have been considering an opportunity of developing business contacts at the seminars dedicated to the transfrontier cooperation, nuclear and renewable energy and supplies of energy carriers. The Belarusian side is set to hold negotiations with the Polish agencies, companies and firms to sign agreements and contracts.

The Economic Forum in Krynica organized by the Eastern Institute of Warsaw is held annually in early September.

The Economic Forum in Krynica is a prestigious event of exchanging opinions, discussions and meetings between politicians, economists and business circles from Central and Eastern Europe.