Belarus’ exports to Estonia exceeds $236 million in January-July

Over the seven months of 2008, the Belarusian exports to Estonia exceeded $236 million, up 2.5 times over the same period a year ago. $266 million of mutual trade almost reached the level of 2007, BelTA learnt from Consul General of Belarus in Tallinn Alexander Ostrovsky.

Alexander Ostrovsky underlined that the Belarusian exports “preserved the variety of products exceeding 200 descriptions”. Belarus increased the exports of potash fertilizers, paper, peat, textile, spirits, flax linen to Estonia.

“Among the factors boosting Belarusian products to the Estonian market is a close contact of Belarusian exporters with their dealers and an operational exchange of information on terms and quality of supplies,” the Consul General noted.

In March, in order to study the business doing environment of Belarus and conditions for investing in the economy, Belarus welcomed more than 30 heads and managers of such well-known Estonian companies as Delloite, Sorainen, Ekspress Grupp, Tietoenator Corp, Arko Vara, Magnum, Argo Investeening, Marat and others.

A group of Belarusian businessmen headed by Alexander Fedorchuk, General Director of the Minsk Office of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, paid a visit to Estonia in May. The group consisted of the officials of the renowned companies-exporters – Mogilevliftmash, Minsk Machine-Tool Plant, Gomelstroimaterialy, Vitebsk Carpets, Pinsk Artificial Leather Works, FEZ Gomel-Raton and the Gomel oblast executive committee.

According to the diplomat, in September the Estonian capital will host more than 20 heads of the construction companies of Belarus. Estonian business circles will visit Minsk in November.

According to Alexander Ostrovsky, direct contacts between businessmen increase Estonian investments in the Belarusian economy. If three years ago the amount of investments was nearly $6 million, then in 2007 it almost reached $50 million and in Q1 2008 exceeded $29 million.