Updated at 17:53,27-03-2024

Lukashenka meets with Prince Michael of Kent: Belarus has huge interest in trade and investment

belsat.eu via BelTA

Lukashenka meets with Prince Michael of Kent: Belarus has huge interest in trade and investment
Belarus and the United Kingdom do not have insurmountable issues in the interstate relations, president Alyaksandr Lukashenka said at Tuesday’s meeting with Prince Michael of Kent, a member of the British royal family and cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.

“Frankly speaking, the United Kingdom, perhaps, was not very much interested in the situation in Belarus, and, most likely, followed the policy of Brussels. I hope that your visit opens a new page in our relations, and that you will provide information about Belarus to the politicians and businessmen who show an interest in Belarus,” he said.

“We strongly hope that our relations with the United Kingdom will be improving. We have a huge interest in trade,” Lukashenka stressed.


Belarus does not have any restrictions and obligations impeding the development of trade and cooperation in various fields with the United Kingdom, he said.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka also thanked for the assistance and charity projects initiated by the United Kingdom for the children from the Chernobyl-affected territories.

Prince Michael of Kent is the first representative of the British royal family visiting Belarus. Prince Michael of Kent has been a businessman and benefactor since 1981. He runs a consulting company operating in various countries and providing a wide range of services in the construction industry, telecommunications, insurance, finance, tourism, medicine, aviation, and automobile manufacturing.road security is one of the main issues on the agenda of his visit.

The United Kingdom provides comprehensive humanitarian aid to Belarus. In the United Kingdom there are more than 100 social and humanitarian organizations helping Belarus mitigate the Chernobyl impact.

In 2015, the United Kingdom was among the top three trading partners of Belarus behind Russia and Ukraine. Belarus’ export to the United Kingdom made up $2.98 billion, the import reached $176.2 million. The investments in the Belarusian economy totaled $2.34 billion last year. Direct investments made up $2.19 billion, including $44.5 million on a net basis. A total of 422 companies with the UK capital have been registered in Belarus. There are two subjects of the Belarusian commodity distribution network in the United Kingdom. These are ВNK UK Ltd (an affiliated company of ZAO Belarusian Oil Company) and the office of the Belavia air carrier. The office of the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus was opened in London in December 2015.