OREANDA-NEWS. July 30, 2010. Belarus-Syria trade can be increased several times, Vice Premier Viktor Burya said in a session of the Belarusian-Syrian Business Council in Minsk.

According to Viktor Burya, in 2009 the trade turnover between Belarus and Syria totaled USD60 million. “It is a considerable sum taking into account the global financial crisis. Yet the potential of the bilateral trade cooperation is largely untapped,” he noted.

According to the Vice Premier, Syrian customers praise the quality of Belarusian goods such as MAZ products and Belarus tractors, machine tools, steel products and others. Advanced technologies and equipment used in their manufacture alongside Belarusian competitive cost, quality and reliability are the major distinguishing features of the Belarusian products. Belarus is also interested in supplying agricultural raw material, phosphate and other products to Syria.

Today Belarus and Syria are switching to bigger economic projects, Viktor Burya said. Among them are projects on assembling Belarusian buses, MAZ trucks and other equipment in Syria.

Belarus is keen on more fruitful cooperation with Syrian companies. “We give an opportunity to get familiar with our food, pharmaceutical and other industries in order to attract Syrian investments,” Viktor Burya said.

Syria and Belarus are ready to implement 13 joint projects, Syrian Economy Minister Lamia Asi told a session of the Belarusian-Syrian Business Council.

According to Lamia Asi, the Belarusian-Syrian trade does not meet the potential of the economies of the two countries. “There is no competition between Belarusian and Syrian producers as they offer different goods. So, both the sides can make profits from this,” Lamia Asi said.

Syrian businessmen propose to open Belarusian-Syrian trading houses in Minsk and Damascus, organize a number of sale-exhibitions in Minsk and Damascus in 2011, launch direct air service between the capitals of the two countries, simplify visa procedures. The Syrian business would like to set up a joint company to import and assemble Belarusian agricultural machinery (tractors, grading machine with laser level), a joint company to assemble deep-well pumps and a joint company to import and assemble electric transformers for the Syrian and foreign markets. The Belarusian partners have been proposed to set up a joint company to sell the foodstuffs produced in both the countries (vegetables, fruits, dried milk and others), a joint company to render sea and land transport services, a joint company to sell olive oil, a joint company to render tourist services. The two countries may organize training sessions of the national teams in Belarus and Syria.

Lamia Asi noted that any companies which can be set up jointly with Belarus can make up to 40% of profits due to absence of customs duties with the Syria-neighboring countries.