News

Belarus Trade Delegation Visits Arkansas

May 18, 2017

ROGERS, AR, USA - The World Trade Center Arkansas welcomed an inbound Belarus trade delegation on Tuesday, May 2.

The purpose of the inbound Belarus trade mission was to explore Arkansas as a bilateral trade partner and to expand trade and educational exchange between the two regions.

“Our high level delegation’s visit to Bentonville and Rogers last week was very successful,” said Pavel Schidlovsky, the charge d’Affaires for the Embassy of Belarus in Washington D.C. “The World Trade Сenter Arkansas has developed an excellent program tailored to the needs of the members of the Belarus trade delegation. At the seminar, the delegation made presentations and discussed the possibilities of doing business with Arkansas business leaders, professors, representatives of Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton as well as Congressmen Womack.”

Cameron Smith (left), CEO of Cameron Smith & Associates; Wayne Callahan. senior adviser of Vestar Capital Partners; Bootsie Ackerman, district director for Congressman Womack; and Steve Schotta, executive director of Doing Business in Bentonville listen to Aliaksandr Zabella speak on behalf of the Belarus trade delegation.
Cameron Smith (far left), CEO of Cameron Smith & Associates; Wayne Callahan (middle-left). senior adviser of Vestar Capital Partners; Bootsie Ackerman (middle-right), district director for Congressman Womack; and Steve Schotta (far right), executive director of Doing Business in Bentonville listen to Aliaksandr Zabella speak on behalf of the Belarus trade delegation.

MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION

Members of the Belarus trade delegation included government and commercial leaders like Aliaksandr Zabella, the chairman of the Belarusian State Food Industry Concern; Pavel Schidlovsky, the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy for Belarus in Washington D.C.; Viktar Nekrashevich, the deputy chairman of the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee; Henadz Chorny, director general for the Mogilev branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Geert Visser, honorary consul for the Republic of Belarus in Houston.

Multi-industry leaders from the food industry, the textile industry and the interior design industries were present for this mission. Companies such as Kommunarka and Slodych, some of the largest confectionaries in Belarus, as well as Minsk Krystall, a distilled beverages production company and Mogotex, a manufacturer of advanced textiles who made suits for American astronauts gave presentations at an interactive seminar held at the World Trade Center Arkansas in Rogers.

OTHER MEETINGS IN ARKANSAS

In addition to the interactive seminar at the World Trade Center Arkansas, the delegation traveled to other parts of the state. Viktar Nekrashevich received the Key to the City of Bentonville on behalf of the delegation from Mayor Bob McCaslin. In Little Rock, they met with Governor Asa Hutchinson and the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“At the meeting, the Governor expressed his hope that the World Trade Сenter Arkansas would be able to organize the visit of a delegation of Arkansas businessmen to Belarus,” Schidlovsky said. “The Belarusian side will continue to work with the World Trade Сenter Arkansas to organize trade and educational missions from the State of Arkansas to Belarus.”

A bilateral business partnership agreement between Mogilev and Little Rock was signed with Mayor Mark Stodola. Furthermore, the Mogilev branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a cooperation agreement with Jay Chesshir, president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.

ECONOMIC PROFILE OF BELARUS

For the past ten years, Belarus trade has been characterized by the fast growth of trade turnover and services. This is caused by high rates of economic growth and increases in scientific and technical potential. A diversification of Belarus trade through economic relations with other regions of the world can also be attributed.

The top five exports of Belarus are Refined Petroleum, Potassic Fertilizers, Cheese, Crude Petroleum and Delivery Trucks. The top three export destinations of Belarus are Russia, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. The top import origins are Russia, China, and Germany. In 2015 Belarus exported $26.1B, making it the 67th largest exporter in the world.

The mission of the World Trade Center Arkansas is to grow trade and increase Arkansas exports by connecting Arkansas businesses to the world through international trade services. For more information and valuable updates, please follow the Center on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the World Trade Center Arkansas newsletter.

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