ARMENIA, BELARUS HAS POTENTIAL TO INCREASE GOODS TURNOVER

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 23 2006

YEREVAN, October 23. /ARKA/. Armenia and Belarus have the potential
to increase goods turnover, Belarusian Prime Minister Sergey Sidorsky
reported at the joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart
Andranik Margaryan.

"The goods turnover between our countries in January-July 2006 reached
the level of 2005, and we have five reserve months to exceed this
level considerably," Sidorsky said.

He pointed out that the goods turnover totaled $15mln in 2005, and
$14.9mln – over the seven months of 2006. The growth rates amounted
to 37% of exports, the growth of the Belarusian exports to Armenia –
28%, and the exports from Armenia to Belarus increased 2.2 times.

"This is a good indicator, though we are not satisfied with the volume
of the goods turnover. That is why we signed a specific protocol and
gave an assignment to business representatives to intensify the goods
turnover," he reported.

The prime minister said that the overall goods turnover of Belarus
totals $30bln while the growth of the foreign trade turnover amounts
to 30%.

He said that taking these indicators into account, the volumes of
the goods turnover between Armenia and Belarus cannot be considered
satisfactory, and we "seek ways increase them".

The Belarusian governmental delegation, led by Prime Minster Sergey
Sidorsky, arrived to Armenia on Sunday for a three-day official
visit. It is planned to hold meetings with the general authorities of
Armenia to examine the issues of humanitarian and regional cooperation,
and also to expand the trade and economic relations.