Belarusian food industry concern Belgospischeprom has approved a plan of measures aimed at creating Belarusian-Uzbek Trading House Belgospischeprom in March 2008. The trading house will focus on selling sugar and confectionery products and on providing Belgospischeprom companies with horticultural raw stock from Uzbekistan.

BelTA has been told, Belarus had suggested that Uzbekistan should consider the advisability of starting up a joint assembly of tractors, production of other agricultural machines and components. The possibility of starting up joint livestock businesses for breeding pedigree cattle and poultry factories in Uzbekistan using the latest Belarusian technologies and equipment is under consideration.

Apart from that, the sides are discussing prospects of opening joint ventures for manufacturing meat and dairy products and tinned meat products. There are also plans to start joint processing of fruits and vegetables and to work out several projects for promoting cooperation in the timber industry.

In 2007 the trade between Belarus and Kazakhstan increased by 62% up on 2006 to make up US$114.7 million (US$70.4 million in 2006 and US$16 million in 2000). Belarus’ export grew by 71.6% to reach US$93.1 million (US$54.2 million in 2006). In 2007 import from Uzbekistan amounted to US$21.6 million, with cars dominating the import. The foreign trade surplus totalled US$71.4 million.