The trade turnover between Belarus and Uzbekistan increased by 37% in 5 months, reaching $50 million.

This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Belarus to Uzbekistan, Igor Sokol. "We had a successful year in mutual trade in 2008, when the trade turnover amounted to $168 million, including our exports of $138 million," the ambassador said. "Now we have already reached $50 million and plan to recover the losses incurred last year." July 23, Minsk / Lilia Krapivina - BELTA /. The trade turnover between Belarus and Uzbekistan for the first five months of 2010 increased by 37% compared to the same period last year and reached $50 million. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Belarus to Uzbekistan, Igor Sokol. "We had a successful year in mutual trade in 2008, when the trade turnover amounted to $168 million, including our exports of $138 million," the ambassador said. "Now we have already reached $50 million and plan to recover the losses incurred last year." In addition, there was a significant imbalance in the balance of payments, "which was not entirely well perceived by our Uzbek friends." Therefore, in April, Belarusian consumers purchased $15 million worth of mineral nitrogen fertilizers from Uzbekistan. "And thus, we have more or less balanced the balance of payments," Igor Sokol noted. Uzbekistan also supplies cotton fiber and domestically assembled passenger cars to Belarus. Belarusian exports to Uzbekistan are widely represented by machine-building products. The main export item is quarrying equipment from OJSC "BelAZ". Last year, the Uzbek market was the first for BelAZ among the CIS countries. "We have been supplying 50-60 quarry trucks there annually since 2006 as part of the program to modernize Uzbekistan's mining industry," the ambassador said. This program ends this year, and the issue is to extend it and continue the work. Belarusian quarrying equipment is mainly used in the open-pit mines of the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine and Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine, as well as in the "Uzbekugol" and "Kyzylkumcement" companies. The ambassador emphasized that for BelAZ, the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine is not only a sales market but also a good testing ground. "There is a highly competent engineering and technical staff who always provide constructive proposals for improving quarrying equipment," he noted. Therefore, the management of BelAZ frequently visits Uzbekistan. "The General Director of OJSC "BelAZ", Petr Parkhomchik, is received by the country's government there, and he is treated with great respect in Uzbekistan. All this also contributes to strengthening our relations," Igor Sokol said. Last year, the first assembly production of balers from OJSC "Bobruiskagromash" was opened in Urgench. In 2009, 50 balers were assembled there, and this year the plan is to produce 100 units of such agricultural machinery. "So far, this is the only assembly project that we have managed to implement, but we are working on organizing new SKD assembly operations," Igor Sokol said. OJSC "MAZ" plans to open a representative office or a trading house in Uzbekistan to increase the supply of trucks there. The supply of MAZ trucks is ongoing, but in small quantities. The Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Belarus to Uzbekistan also noted the importance of restoring and developing cultural ties between the two countries. In April 2010, soloists of the National Academic Grand Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus took part in the Italian Opera Week at the Tashkent Opera and Ballet Theatre. "Unfortunately, our artists had not visited the Tashkent Opera for 30 years, but now we have restored these ties and cultural exchange," Igor Sokol noted. A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between the opera theaters of the two countries. The state ensemble "Syabry" visited Tashkent for the "Melodies of Friends" festival, dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory. "The audience was delighted with the performance of the Belarusian ensemble, and there were very positive reviews," the ambassador noted.