MINSK, 27 April (BelTA) – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has gone to Turkmenistan on an official visit, the press service of the Belarusian head of state told BelTA. The two heads of state are expected to hold negotiations in Ashgabad to discuss the development of trade and economic cooperation between the countries and the implementation of major joint projects. In 2010 Turkmenistan ranked eighth in the volume of Belarus’ foreign trade with the CIS states and seventh in Belarus’ export to the CIS states. Over the last five years Belarus-Turkmenistan trade has doubled thanks to the rapidly growing Belarusian export that largely exceeds import. In 2010 Belarus-Turkmenistan trade totaled $90.7 million, 21.1% up on 2009. Belarus’ export went up 19.3% to $87.2 million. The foreign trade surplus was close to $83.6 million. In January-February 2011 Belarus-Turkmenistan trade amounted to $16 million, 210% up on January-February 2010. Belarus’ export went up 220% to exceed $15 million. Belarus’ primary exports to Turkmenistan are high added value products such as tractors, road machines, soil cultivators, trucks, tires, woodworking industry products, medications and food. Belarus’ basic imports from Turkmenistan are cotton yarn and fiber, wool and bed linen. Belarus and Turkmenistan are implementing a project worth over $1 billion to create an ore-dressing and processing enterprise that will manufacture potash fertilizers.

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