13th session of Armenian-Belarusian intergovernmental commission held in Minsk

ArmInfo. On October 20, the 13th meeting of the Armenian- Belarusian intergovernmental commission took place in Minsk. The delegation of Armenia, headed by the Minister of Economic Development and Investments of the Republic of Armenia, Suren Karayan, took part in the work. The Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia Ignaty Arakelyan also participated in the work of the commission.

According to the press service of the RA Ministry of Economic Development and Investment, during the meeting the prospects of bilateral cooperation, the process of implementing the agreements reached during the previous meeting, as well as issues of mutual interest were discussed. At the end of the 13th meeting, in a solemn atmosphere, a protocol was signed, indicating the parties' intentions to intensify bilateral cooperation in such areas as trade, industry, agriculture, transport, health, culture, education and science, and emergencies. The parties also noted the importance of cooperation between the regions of the two states. The need was stressed for the growth of trade turnover, the implementation of mutually beneficial programs in the tax and customs spheres. It was also noted the need for industrial cooperation, and activation in the implementation of joint projects, the full use of the free trade zone "Meghri."

Parties noted with satisfaction that the protocol of the 13th meeting is different from previous meetings. It gives more opportunities for the development of bilateral relations in the trade and economic sphere.

On October 19, spokesman for the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Dmitry Mironchik said that the Belarusian exports to Armenia in January-August this year increased by 40%. According to BelTA, the spokesman noted that in January-August 2017 the trade turnover with Armenia, which is a partner of Belarus in the EAEU, grew by 22.7% and amounted to $ 23.2 million. The Belarusian export increased positively: it increased almost 40% to $ 18.3 million.