DUSHANBE, November 25, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Belarus intends to boost trade with Tajikistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Belarus’ President Aleksnadr Lukashenko remarked at a meeting with members of the council of heads of national news agencies of the CIS member nations in Minsk on November 24, according BELTA.

Lukashenko noted that Belarus and Tajikistan have good potentials for expansion of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.  He confirmed his country readiness for expansion of such cooperation.

According to him, Belarus could develop assembling in Tajikistan as well as expand operating joint ventures and launch the new ones in Tajikistan.  Besides, Belarus could supply machines necessary for cotton-harvesting campaign, Lukashenko noted.  

According to the State Committee for Statistics of Tajikistan, a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Belarus in January-October 2009 has valued at US$36.055 million.  This consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Belarus estimated at more than US$5 million and Tajikistan’s imports from Belarus worth US$31 million.  Compared to the same period of last year, Tajik-Belarusian trade has decreased by 47.5 percent.