Belarus reckons on start of new large investment projects with France at an early date. Belarusian ambassador to France Pavel Latushko reported about it during the Belarusian-French interregional business forum which took place in Minsk from November 30 till December 1.
The French business still slowly enters on the Belarusian market therefore now it is better to concentrate on informing the business on its opportunities in Belarus. So, there is already an arrangement to carry out work with French partners with respect to positioning of Belarus for investors from France and the European Union in general.
“I think that such steps will promote attraction of French investment. I think, in the nearest future we will begin a number of rather large investment projects with French companies”, Pavel Latushko said.
“Today 40 entities with French equity are already registered in Minsk. And while communicating in Lyon, we have understood that there are real opportunities to attract investors to us and to create some more entities in various industries”, Vice-Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee Zhanna Birich told.
About 40 more potential investors arrived these days to the forum with ready contracts, ideas and business plans. Even more often businessmen from France emphasize: the cancellation of sanctions is a signal to new successful projects between the states in general and, in particular, between regions. In this regard Minsk and Lyon are most productive now, but the current business forum shows also interest of other representatives of the small and medium business of France in our country.
Entrepreneurs from 7 regions of France met in Minsk. The focus is on small and medium business — it generally gives investment and workplaces. The desire to learn more about opportunities of cooperation with Belarus was expressed also by representatives of the Spanish business.
France is ready to cooperate more actively with Belarus in the sphere of IT and creation of infrastructure, the ambassador of France to Belarus Didier Caness noted.
“It is necessary to strive for working and not being afraid to use the openings. For example, it is worth speaking about development of infrastructure, IT sphere, agriculture”, Didier Caness said.
One more direction of cooperation is wooden house-building. Actually Belarusian streets appear in France. Within four years French registration was received by 37 houses. It is already possible to make a walk along them in Metz. The same will appear in Alsace, near Strasbourg. Partners are attracted by the price and ecological compatibility.
The entity of Shklow (branch of a newsprint plant) cooperates with French colleagues more than two years, but such a large contract as concluded at the forum, was the first one ever.
Based on the Yunison plant, production of cars Peugeot Citroën began two years ago. Today 9 models of this group are collected. The majority goes for export to Russia, every fifth machine remains in Belarus. Since next year a new model of a car will be produced.
France and Belarus agree that the mutual goods turnover can be higher. “At the moment the goods turnover doesn't correspond to the available potential. The Embassy of France in return will promote economic cooperation with Belarus in every possible way. We would like to gain again those areas which we, unfortunately, have lost in economic cooperation”, Didier Caness added.
This year Belarus has advanced 13 positions to rank 37th in the ranking of Doing Business. Didier Caness advised French businessmen to consider this fact. “It is a very important point and the recognition of work, which already has been done in Belarus. I am sure that we will be able to improve the business climate in Belarus”, the ambassador added.
The Belarusian-French interregional business forum is devoted to the 40 anniversary of establishment of twinning relations between Minsk and Lyon. The representatives of the French business interested in development of cooperation with Belarus in spheres of industry, agricultural, power, tourism and others took part in the event.
The organizers of the event are the Embassy of Belarus in France and the Minsk City Executive Committee.
According to information resources