Turkey ready to carry out projects in Belarus: Minister

Turkish contractors are ready to carry out all kinds of construction projects in Belarus, the country's agriculture and forestry minister said on Tuesday.

Remarks by Bekir Pakdemirli came during a Turkey-Belarus Business Forum in the Turkish capital Ankara which followed a two-day convention of Turkey-Belarus Joint Economic Commission.

"We have discussed many topics from finance to tourism, contracting investments to agriculture during the commission meeting and we have taken concrete steps for cooperation," he said.

Pakdemirli said mineral fuel-oil, chemicals, cosmetics, cleaning equipment, construction products, automotive and heavy machinery industry were potential sectors for investment.

He also said Turkey and Belarus established a joint working group to boost bilateral trade.

Pakdemirli said the bilateral trade volume has increased gradually since 2016, adding however that it was still short of a target of $1 billion trade volume.

"Turkey's exports to Belarus rose 4.2% year-on-year to stand at $439 million while its imports from Belarus increased 5.6% to $193 million in 2018," Pakdemirli said.

Turkey and Belarus should diversify sectors to boost trade and investment, the Belarusian deputy prime minister said on Tuesday.

"We can allocate spots in industrial areas with special location and privileges for Turkish investors," Igor Lyashenko told the Turkey-Belarus Business Forum in capital Ankara.

Lyashenko called on Turkish and Belarusian business circles to be more active.

He highlighted that the two countries should deepen cooperation potential especially in logistic and transportation.