OSCE supports Belarus in its trade facilitation efforts

MINSK, 29 September 2017 – A two-day consultation mission aimed at determining the scope of co-operation between the OSCE and Belarus in support of the country’s trade facilitation efforts concluded today in Minsk.

A delegation of the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities held a series of consultations with high-level representatives of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Customs Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the National Academy of Sciences and the UNDP Office in Belarus.

“Trade liberalization is associated with both challenges and opportunities for Belarus, which has a strong export potential including in the agricultural, food and heavy machinery industries,” said Ermelinda Meksi, Deputy Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. “We appreciate the opportunity to establish closer co-operation with the Belarusian counterparts and to support co-ordination and implementation of trade facilitation reforms in the country in the framework of our economic connectivity project.”

Participants discussed current progress in the implementation of trade facilitation measures in Belarus and identified remaining challenges which can be addressed in the course of joint project activities.

Areas for future work may include: stepping up efforts in the information technology and automation fields; the creation of a paperless trade environment and integrated Single Window system for exports and imports; and increased international cooperation on standards and technical regulations for product certification.