Cape Town - Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ebrahim Ebrahim has indicated that trade relations between Belarus and South Africa have potential to grow.
Ebrahim met with his Belarus counterpart Sergei Aleinik in Cape Town on Wednesday as part of the annual political consultations between the two countries in line with the Protocol on Political Consultations signed in 2000.
Ebrahim said they had extensively discussed bilateral relations between the two nations which were established in 1993.
"We strongly believe we have potential for substantial growth in the fields of science and technology, education and skills development," he said.
Other areas of possible cooperation included trade and investment in agro-processing, automotives, electrical and electronic engineering, machine manufacturing, tractors and tyres.
"We have taken note of Belarus's interest in exploring opportunities for a tractor and maintenance assembly [facility] in the Industrial Zone in Port Elizabeth. We will monitor development in this area," said Ebrahim.
Aleinik said trade relations between the two nations needed to be strengthened, as last year Belarus' trade with SA amounted to about US25 million.
He said they exported goods such as tractors and fertilizers to SA while importing fruits, sugar and tobacco.
Other issues that were discussed included the need for reform of the UN Security Council and the upcoming COP17 in Durban.
Eleinik is set to co-chair an SA-Belarus trade meeting in Pretoria on Thursday.
