Armenian trade with Belarus grows 14 times over 11 years: ambassador

YEREVAN, December 14. / ARKA /. Over the past 11 years the trade
turnover between Armenia and Belarus increased by more than 14 times –
from about $2 million to $35 million, Byelorussian ambassador to
Armenia, Stepan Sukhorenko, told a news conference today.

“Despite the growth the trade with Belarus accounts for only about 2%
of Armenia’s overall foreign trade. This is not the figure that would
satisfy us today, given close ties between the two countries, «he
said.

According to Sukhorenko, the Armenian-Belarusian trade and economic
cooperation is hindered by several factors, like the blockade of
Armenia, problems with logistics and saturation of the Armenian
market.

“However, we are determined to boost our ties. We made a detailed
analysis of the problems and the opportunities that can be used today
to build our trade and economic cooperation “, he said.

The trade between Armenia and Belarus in January – August 2012 totaled
$28.4 million, an increase of 60 percent over the same period of 2011;
imports amounted to $24.1 million (up 57.2%), and exports – $ 4.3
million (up 82.5%).
Belarus sells to Armenia trucks (16%), tires (13.4%), tractors (5.2%),
butter (3.3%), paper and cardboard (3, 2%), drugs (3%), synthetic
fibers (2.8%), skin (2.3%) and plywood (2.1%).

Armenia sells to Belarus strong alcoholic drinks (56.1%), petroleum
products (4.3%), siliceous earth (3.4%), glass (2.8%), equipment for
the production of paper and cardboard (2.4%), paper containers and
paperboard (2.4%), drugs (2.3%), colloidal precious metals (1.6%), and
mineral water (1.4%). -0-