DUSHANBE, 28 October (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon have signed a long-term cooperation agreement in trade and economy on 28 October, BelTA has learnt. The heads of state also concluded a Belarus-Tajikistan interstate long-term cooperation program for 2011-2020. Besides, the parties signed an intergovernmental agreement on migrant workers, a cooperation agreement between the Economy Ministry of Belarus and the Economy and Trade Ministry of Tajikistan. The ministries and agencies of the two countries concluded cooperation agreements in emergency prevention and response, youth policy, culture and art. The trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Tajikistan has been on the rise. Over the last five years, the two countries held seven sessions of the intergovernmental trade and economic commission; the next session will take place in Dushanbe this year. Interregional cooperation, contacts between free economic zones, joint projects in science, healthcare, culture and education are gaining momentum. According to the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, in recent years Belarus-Tajikistan trade has considerably increased: from $6 million in 2003 to $47.6 million in 2010. Last year the bilateral trade rose by 4.2% over 2009. The export expanded by 21.9% to $42.1 million. The import made $5.5 million, down by 50.6%. Belarus’ major exports to Tajikistan are sugar, tractors, textiles, electric installations, fluorides, woodworking products, furniture, and medicines. Belarus’ major imports from Tajikistan are cotton, wool, dried fruit, aluminum and other goods. Tajikistan is interested in ramping up mutually beneficial all-round cooperation with Belarus. The priority cooperation avenues include supplies of Belarusian farm machines and heavy-duty and quarry machines to be used by Tajik construction companies, hydropower installations and mining facilities. n

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