(BelTA) – Prime Minister of Lithuania Algirdas Butkevicius sees a potential for the improvement of trade between Belarus and Lithuania. Algirdas Butkevicius made the relevant statement during the Belarusian-Lithuanian economic forum in Klaipeda, Lithuania, on 18 April, BelTA has learnt.

Algirdas Butkevicius noted the improvement of the Belarusian-Lithuanian trade and economic relations. Bilateral trade and investments have went up, too. “It is evident that there is a lot of room for the improvement of the Belarus-Lithuania economic ties in trade and services, especially in the field of tourism, transport and construction,” the Prime Minister of Lithuania noted.

Algirdas Butkevicius underlined the potential in the development of transport and logistics cooperation. He also called the projects that have already been implemented successful. “The constructive cooperation helps the Lithuanian-Belarusian transport hub be successfully integrated in the international transportation corridors,” Algirdas Butkevicius said adding that this will help both Belarus and Lithuania consolidate their positions as transit countries.

President of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists Robertas Dargis agreed with Algirdas Butkevicius pointing out the increased export in the bilateral trade. Belarus and Lithuania have much in common, Robertas Dargis said. “The economic forum will be a good ground for the further consolidation of ties. It will help us better find out each other and address the existing problems,” Robertas Dargis noted.

Chairman of non-profit organizations union Confederation of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (Employers) Anatoly Kharlap underlined that the trade between Belarus and Lithuania has went up significantly. “Business representatives showed their interest in the development of mutually beneficial cooperation and revealed the destructive nature of some structures’ attempts to impose sanctions on some Belarusian companies,” Anatoly Kharlap remarked.

“When Lithuania joined the EU the Lithuanian border became a window to the common Europe. With the assistance from the Lithuanian business unions the Belarusian companies and organizations of entrepreneurs learned to use new business technologies and standards. Now we think that it will be interesting for the Lithuanian businessmen to find out about the prospects of expansion of their companies taking into account Belarus’ improved positions in the entrepreneurship ranking and in view of Belarus’ accession to the Single Economic Space,” Anatoly Kharlap underlined.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lithuania to Belarus Evaldas Ignatavicius and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to the Republic of Lithuania and Finland on concurrent Vladimir Drazhin also underscored that there is a considerable room for the improvement of the Belarus-Lithuania cooperation. The diplomats pointed out the results of cooperation between the two states noting the role of Klaipeda in the bilateral cooperation. Vladimir Drazhin proposed Mogilev as the host city for the tenth Belarusian-Lithuanian economic forum that will take place in April 2014.