MINSK, 14 December (BelTA) – Kazakhstan expects the participation of Belarusian companies in the projects to prepare for the international exhibition EXPO 2017 in Astana, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Belarus Ergali Bulegenov told a press conference in Minsk on 14 December. According to the diplomat, in late November Kazakhstan won the tender for hosting the EXPO 2017. In his words, 103 out of 146 states voted for Astana as the venue for the exhibition. Ergali Bulegenov thanked the Belarusian side for support of Kazakhstan initiatives, including this project. “I am convinced that many companies of Belarus will take part in the EXPO 2017 preparation projects,” the diplomat said. In his words, the expo Energy for Future will give an additional impetus to the country’s innovation development. The Ambassador stressed that the bilateral relations between Belarus and Kazakhstan had been vibrant in the recent years. “This year we have marked the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The bilateral relations have been steadily developing, basing of the principles of friendship, mutual respect and equal partnership,” the diplomat said. The bilateral trade reached $1 billion. The work is underway to implement the instruction of the leaders of the two countries to double this figure. First of all, it is achievable by switching from simple trade to more sophisticated forms of cooperation. In Kazakhstan there are 13 joint assembling plants. The two countries are implementing projects on the production of Belarusian mechanical and farm machinery in Kazakhstan (a total of 60 projects). Five joint projects with the total cost of $98 million have been included into the Industrialization Map of Kazakhstan. The diplomat touched upon the relations of the two countries in education, science, culture, IT, telecommunications, medicine. “Our cooperation has great potential and our major task is to take the best of it. The bonds of friendship, mutual respect and determination for strategic partnership will remain our main principles for the benefit of the two nations,” Ergali Bulegenov said.

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