The Guest in the Club, H.E. Mr. Aleksandr Gerasimenko, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus
On Thursday, 31st March the Club held a traditional meeting of the Club members called „Evening tea in the Club, — honorary guest Mr. Aleksandr Gerasimenko , Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Latvia“. There were lots of questions, and the replies were quite honest. Members of the Club were interested in the economic situation of Belarus and economic relations between Belarus and Latvia, which are developing in a positive way.
Economic relations between Latvia and Belarus are developing, connections are getting deeper, wider and opportunities are opening more and more.
Biography of Mr. Aleksandr Gerasimenko
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| Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Latvia at the meeting in the Diplomatic Economic Club. Riga. 31.03.2011. |
In the beginning of the meeting, as per tradition, there were introduced present members of the Club and the biography of the guest, Mr. Aleksandr Gerasimenko. The story was followed by the video presentation.
Mr.Aleksandr Mikhailovich Gerasimenko was born in a village Uzda, which has population 9 000 inhabitants. There, by the way, was born Belarusian national writer Kondrat Krapiva. Parents of Aleksandr were doctors, father a doctor, mother – nurse.
The book of Galina Nikholaeva „The fight on the way“ , which tells about the dynasty of Ural engineers gave to Aleksandr such a great impression, that despite the family tradition, he decided to start engineering studies. The prestige of this profession was extremely high in 60-s. In 1969 he graduated from the Faculty of the Mechanical Engineering of the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute, worked as a master at the Belarusian Automobile Plant, then as an engineer at Minsk Tractor Plant. Served in the Army. Later, Mr. Gerasimenko became a leading engineer, and managed one of the sectors’ at Minsk Technological Institute of Design and Construction.
Since 1977 he was involved in the Party and Administrative work. From 1990 — 1995: Chairman of the Minsk City Council and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Minsk city. 1995 — 2000: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus in the Republic of Bulgaria and Greece. 2000 — 2006: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus. From 2006: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus in Latvia.
Married, has two children. He likes listening to Raimonds Pauls music, skiing and reading historical literature seeking the real truth.
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| Mr. A.Gerasimenko as a guest at Diplomatic Economic Club. Riga. 31.03.2011. |
After the video presentation H.E. Ambassador shortly introduced the members of the club with the current Belarus economic situation, told about developments in relations between Latvia and Belarus.
Before the crises foreign trade turnover between Belarus and Latvia reached $2.3 billion, in 2010 it dropped to $1billion, but already in the first 2 months of this year the growth reached 10.4%.
A. Gerasimenko pointed out two main directions for mutually beneficial co-operation. First one is the transit. Latvia is the major transit corridor for Belarus; up to 70% of Belarusian cargoes are transported to the third countries through Latvian ports.
The second direction is the development of assembly plants in Latvia. In the USSR Belarus was the assembly workshop place for whole the country, and Belarusians kept their industry. The Tractor Plant in Minsk is the worlds’ largest manufacturer of the wheeled tractors. The two major oil refineries can produce up to 36 million tons of fuel. In 2010 21million tons of refined oil products were produced there.
Nowadays Belarusian tractors are assembled in Gulbene and near Jelgava. Since 2004 company Alkomtrans constructs MAZ trucks in Jelgava, which have the label „Made in Latvia“.
Assembly manufacturing is beneficial for everybody, thinks A. Gerasimenko. Production, which is exported to Europe from Belarus has 20% tax, but made in Latvia only 2%.
According to Mr. Ambassador, Latvia is an important partner for Belarus in terms of human communication. In 2010 the Consulate of the Republic of Belarus in Latvia issued 80 thousand visas, and every year 20-30% more of Latvians are visiting Republic of Belarus.
The high level of bilateral relations is proved by the amount of joint ventures. There are approximately 1200 of such companies in Belarus. In 2010 there were established 78 joint ventures in Latvia, but in Belarus – 50. During 5.5 years investments flow from Latvia to Belarus was $680 millions. Money was invested in many interesting projects.
Talking about the economic development of the Republic of Belarus, A. Gerasimenko pointed out, that even in the most difficult year, which was 2009, the country kept small, but still growth of GDP, 0.1%. In 2010 the growth of GDP was 6.8%, but in 2011 it is expected to show about 11%. Moreover, H.E. Ambassador stressed that before 2008 the growth of GDP in Belarus was approximately 10% annually, and the country got on the level of the year 1990 already in 2000. In 2011 the Republic of Belarus expects to have 30% increase in investments.
Questions and answers
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| I.Nazaruk and A.Gerasimenko at the meeting in DEC. Riga. 31.03.2011. |
Aleksandr Gerasimenko: As soon as Belarus got information about the sale of AMO Plant, there was made a serious offer. At the moment we didn’t get any reply to that. Moreover, the issue about the production sales is not solved yet. I believe that Belarus should take part and buy the shares of Jelgava Plant.
Regarding the second question, — Introduction of temporary currency regulations in the country happened because of the instability of the currencies in the basket: dollar, euro and rubble.
Igor Nazaruk, counsellor on economic issues of the Embassy of Belarus in Latvia added: the lack of the foreign currency in the banks can be explained by the excessive demand for cars, which served as a bad sign for currency market. From 1st of July import duty for physical persons for cars will increase from 800 EUR up to 7 500 EUR or approximately 10 times. One more negative rumour was heard about the devaluation of the Belarusian rubble. People started converting rubbles into euro, taking loans in EUR. You can name it just „spring currency escalation“. But the trend is temporary. Belarus asked for assistance the Stabilisation Fund, Russian government, IMF. We are sure, we’ll solve this problem.
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| A.Gerasimenko and J.Savickis. DEC. Riga. 31.03.2011. |
Juris Savickis, president ITERA< Latvia: The first question is regarding the perspectives of the Nuclear Power Plant construction in Belarus. The other is about Belarus reaction on Libya crisis.
A.G.: Belarus has never had its own Nuclear Power Plant; however, Belarusians suffered a lot from the Chernobyl disaster. 70% of the radioactive releases got on our territory. However, the use of electric energy is very big in the country, and we have to build our own Nuclear Station. At the moment 95% of electrical energy gives Russian gas. As soon as we will get our own nuclear station, our dependence on gas can decrease for 25%.
Nowadays the global community cannot exist without nuclear energy. This is true for Belarus as well. In Belarusian society there are two different opinions regarding the construction of the NPP. But the decision is already made – we will build it.
Our position on Libya is to give the country possibility to solve the internal problems itself. Foreign invasion is not accepted.
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| E.Tikhonov, Second Secretary at the USA Embassy in Latvia Brian O’Beirne at the meeting in DEC. Riga. 31.03.2011. |
Anatoly Butenko: Your attitude to the project, which is aimed to connect the Baltic and the Black sea thought the river system?
Aleksandr Gerasimenko: To connect seas and to get the ships on the rivers, one needs to invest billions. I think this project will remain on the paper only.
Anatoly Butenko: You work in Latvia for already 5 years; you have visited many places and companies here. What impressed you the most? If some of the opinions/views you had before have changed during this time?
Aleksandr Gerasimenko: Some time ago Latgale was a part of Vitebsk Region. Some persons say that Latgalian is a Belarusian, who didn’t manage to reach Riga. Nowadays Belarus and Latvia have twenty sister cities, which have close co-operation in the field of culture, education, health, etc.
In the last years business forums took place not only in Minsk, but also in regional centres of Belarus – in Grodno, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Gomel. Now we will go the other direction. Minsk city days in Riga have passed already, and we will make them in the cities of Latgale. The interests are only pragmatic.
What has changed? Many things… Five years ago there were published only 80 articles about Belarus in Latvian press, but in 2010 already 1200. We are regularly organising press-tours to Belarusian cities. We became much more opened, than couple of years ago. One of the evidence of that is a big amount of joint ventures.
Every second year we organise a national exhibition of the Republic of Belarus in Riga. 130 Belarusian companies took part in it in 2008, but in 2010 – already 187. Parallel with exhibitions there are taking place business-forums. By the way, in the last one, besides Latvian and Belarusian businessmen were taking part 22 delegates from the neighbouring countries.
There is an intergovernmental commission, which is led by the Ministers of Transport of both countries. The Belarusian-Latvian Business Cooperation Council, which is managed by Vasily Melnik operates since 2008.
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| Evening tea in the Club, — Mr. Aleksandr Gerasimenko, Ambassador of Belarus to Latvia |
As per tradition, the Honorary President of the Club Mr. E.Tikhonov presented to the guest a traditional souvenir from the Club and wished further success.
The meeting was attended by the following members of the Club and guests:
Aleksandr Kushnir, Charge d’Affaires,
Alla Gornickaya Embassy of the Ukraine in Latvia, First Secretary
Igor Nazaruk, Counsellor, Embassy of Belarus
Andrey Volkov, First Secretary, Embassy of Belarus
Aleksandr Sushkevich, Second Secretary, Embassy of Belarus
Oleg Butenko, General Manager of UNIMARS
Gregory Pomerantsev, Air-Balrtic Corporation Vice President
Aleksandr Gaponenko, President of the Institute of European Studies
Olga Pavuk, publisher and Editor-in-Cheif of Baltic-course magazine
Chen Zitao director of SLC, Ms Irina Lubimova
Evgeny Tikhonov, Counsellor, Embassy of the Russian Federation
Juris Savickis, ITERA Latvia, president
Stanislav Buka, President of the Senate, BIA
Marta Stolarova, First Secretary, Embassy of Czech Republic
Vladimir Lavo, Counsellor, Embassy of Slovakia
Brien O’Beirne, Second Secretary, Embassy of the USA
Juris Dreimanis, Assistant, Embassy of the Netherlands
Igor Zakharciuc, Secretary, Embassy of Moldova
Edgar Ozolins; Nikolaj Kolotilo; Valery Roldugin, BIA Professor
Askar Makhmutov, Consul, Embassy of Kazakhstan
Viktor Danilokh, Director, sanatorium „Yantarniy Bereg“
Appeal to world leaders and humanity
