HANOI: A free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Vietnam will allow Belarus to expand the export of meat and dairy products, as well as potash fertilisers and oil products to the Asian country’s market. A positive effect for EAEU exporters is expected to reach 60 million dollars a year. This opinion was expressed by Ambassador of Vietnam to Belarus Le Anh during a solemn ceremony dedicated to the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries.
Minsk and Hanoi have been partners since Soviet Union times. The country still remembers assistance during the Vietnam War, and the Vietnamese 200 dong note even depicts a Belarus tractor. Incidentally, cooperation in mechanical engineering is paid special attention to.
According to Valery Sadokho, the Director of the National Centre for Marketing and Price Study of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry and former Ambassador of Belarus in Vietnam, the countries have managed to create joint ventures and truck assembly plants in recent years and are about to launch a joint enterprise for assembling Belarusian buses in Vietnam. The Customs Union, which includes Belarus, and Vietnam have signed an agreement on free trade. This opens up new opportunities for accessing a large ASEAN market.
During the ceremony, Valery Sadokho was awarded the Vietnamese Order of Friendship for his contribution to the development of the relations between the two countries.
Minsk and Hanoi have been actively exchanging high-level visits in recent years. The volume of mutual trade is planned to reach half a billion dollars next year.
