Belarus president in UAE on working visit

MINSK, 27 October (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is in the United Arab Emirates on a working visit, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is expected to meet with UAE leaders to discuss the current state of Belarus-UAE interaction, progress in implementing previous agreements, and mutually beneficial promising projects. A number of meetings with representatives of the government and the business circles of the country will be held. In January-August 2017 Belarus' export to the UAE reached $44.8 million, some 318% as against the same period of last year. In January-June 2017 alone the UAE's foreign direct investments in Belarus exceeded $11 million. A credit agreement between the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus (DBRB) and the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) was signed on 27 October. In line with the agreement the fund will give about $25 million to the bank. The money will be spent on encouraging private initiatives, innovations, regional projects, and new jobs in the Republic of Belarus. Apart from that, taking into account the traditionally friendly mutual relations the UAE leaders invited Alexander Lukashenko to spend several days in the country as a guest.