21 November 2006
Lukashenko suggests diversifying Belarus' export destinations
Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested diversifying Belarus' export destinations while receiving Nikolai Maksyuta, governor of Russia's Volgograd province, on November 20.
According to him, the country's GDP annually grows by eight to 10 percent, which is evidence that Belarus manufactures more and more products and the diversification of export destinations becomes an increasingly more important task.
"We cannot confine ourselves to even the friendliest brotherly country, supplying our goods to Russia only," the Belarusian leader's press office quoted him as saying. "At the same time we are not going to abandon our traditional markets. And this visit of the head of the Volgograd province is important for us from a trade and economic viewpoint."
Mr. Lukashenko noted that Belarus is interested in the development of good relations with Russia in all areas. "Whatever they say about our relations with Russia, we have more than identical views on global processes, and the processes in the development of our nations and our states," he said. "Despite all criticism, our Union exists," he stressed.
Mr. Lukashenko noted that this year's Belarusian-Russian trade was expected to reach $20 billion.
Trade between Belarus and the Volgograd province has exceeded $100 million this year, which tells a lot, Mr. Lukashenko said. //BelaPAN
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