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Belarus invites Sri Lanka to set up joint ventures
Aug 26, 201311:13 PM
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has invited Sri Lanka to set up joint ventures and increase deliveries of Belarusian equipment. The Belarusian head of state made this statement as he met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that in trade relations Belarus is ready to use modern instruments such as leasing, export lending and insurance. Belarus would like to see Belarusian engineering products included in the government programs in Sri Lanka.
The President of Belarus proposed to implement a number of large bilateral projects with Sri Lanka. “We would like to trade from Sri Lanka with Indonesia, Southeast Asia and particularly India, especially considering the fact that Sri Lanka has a very advantageous tax regime in trade with these states,” the Belarusian leader said.
“We are ready to set up joint ventures on your land, and such proposals have already been worked out by specialists of the two countries. I think many of these projects can be launched soon,” the Belarusian head of state.
Alexander Lukashenko stressed that Belarus would like the Sri Lankan business to invest in Belarus. The opportunities for business cooperation are great especially considering the fact that Belarus is party to the Customs Union.
“The main thing for us today is to develop the economic basis for our cooperation, and to develop our trade and economic relations,” the Belarusian leader said.
Alexander Lukashenko emphasized the importance of the Belarusian-Sri Lankan business forum in Minsk. The Belarusian head of state expressed confidence that the visit of the President of Sri Lanka would help the parties decide on a number of concrete cooperation areas in order to develop trade and economic relations.
According to the President of Belarus, the two countries have a great potential to develop relations in education, the military technical area, science, culture, sports. The Belarusian head of state stressed that Belarus would continue providing assistance to Sri Lankan in training specialists in various areas.
Speaking about military technical cooperation, Alexander Lukashenko noted that “we have no closed topics.” “Today we are opening a new page in our relations. The Belarusian side is committed to go forward,” Alexander Lukashenko said. The Belarusian leader expressed confidence that the documents signed by the two countries would lay the foundation for the development of the legal framework in the bilateral relations.
Belarus, Sri Lanka sign eight cooperation documents
Belarus and Sri Lanka have concluded eight international documents designed to promote all-round cooperation, BelTA has learnt.
They include an intergovernmental agreement on trade and economic cooperation. The document was signed by Belarus’ Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei and Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs Gamini Lakshman Peiris.
Belarus and Sri Lanka have concluded an intergovernmental agreement on visa-free travels for holders of diplomatic and service passports; an intergovernmental double taxation agreement and an agreement to prevent tax evasion; a cooperation agreement in the defense sector and an agreement to promote tourism. The two countries also signed an agreement in mutual legal assistance in criminal cases and a memorandum of understanding between the justice ministries of the two countries.
A joint statement was signed following the highest-level talks between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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