Belarus is interested in developing business relations with French enterprises and is ready to create all the necessary conditions for them to work in Belarus, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko as he met with delegation of managers of French enterprises MEDEF International on January 26, BelTA has learnt. “You are welcome in Belarus and we will provide you with all the necessary conditions for work,” said Alexander Lukashenko addressing the French businessmen. “If we reach an agreement, we will undoubtedly honour it. Someone might not like that we are negotiating for a long time, but if we strike a deal, we will not have any claims on you. If you set up new import-substituting and export-oriented productions in Belarus, you will get unprecedented benefits you will not find in any other country,” the President underlined. Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that Belarus has preserved social and political stability, rapid economic growth and is creating extremely favorable conditions for foreign investors. “We can offer favorable terms for the capital that can be involved in the privatization of state property, development of small and medium-sized towns, free economic zones. We have taken unprecedented steps to abolish the clearance procedures related to the country of origins of goods. In 2009, we considerably simplified the taxation, introduced the declarative principle of company registration,” the Head of State said. “We are convinced that the present day Belarus is an island of stability and the Belarusian companies are reliable and promising partners. I hope that during your visit this time you could see it with your own eyes,” Alexander Lukashenko underlined talking to the French businessmen. “I have no doubts that each one of you will leave Minsk not only with good memories, but with new ideas, projects which will be implemented on mutually beneficial terms and will bring the bilateral trade and economic cooperation on a brand new level in the near future.” The Belarusian President added that at present, when the whole world is in the grip of the financial crisis, it is essential that different countries and business communities unite their efforts. It also pertains to Belarus and France. According to the President of Belarus, the current visit of the MEDEF International delegation will considerably contribute to the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. “Our cooperation has greatly intensified. We are set to restore the relations and increase bilateral trade,” Alexander Lukashenko said. Philippe Citerne, president of the France-Belarus council of the chiefs of enterprises at MEDEF International and Co-Chief Executive Officer of French banking group Societe Generale, said: “We will be glad to see a Belarusian delegation in Paris”. In his words, French companies that work in Belarus recommend their partners in France to come over to Belarus and open business there. Founded in 1998, MEDEF International unites nearly one million industrial and trading organizations, banks, insurance companies, transportation agencies and others. Today MEDEF is the most influential business organization of France. MEDEF International is involved in telecommunications, construction, infrastructure, utilities, energy, banking and insurance services. Recently there have been two meetings of MEDEF with Belarusian business delegations. In 2006, MEDEF met with representatives of the Mink union of entrepreneurs and employers and in 2007 with officials of the Belarusian chamber of commerce and industry. The MEDEF delegation will stay in Belarus until January 27. Businessmen of France will take part in the contact and cooperation exchange at the Belarusian chamber of commerce and industry, a roundtable with Belarusian ministries, will meet with chiefs of the oblast and city councils. A memorandum of cooperation between the government of Belarus and Societe Generale is expected to be signed during the roundtable meeting.

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