Belarus set to develop scientific cooperation with new partners from 20 countries

Belarus has plans to develop scientific and technical cooperation with new partners from 20 countries, Chairman of the State Committee on Science and Technology Alexander Shumilin told a press conference on 2 April, BelTA has learned.

“Belarus takes a proactive position in developing international cooperation in science, technologies, and innovations and is eager to bolster its cooperation ties. Apart from the ties that already exist, we are ready to develop scientific and technical cooperation with new partners from 20 countries,” Alexander Shumilin noted.

These new countries include Argentina, Brazil, Laos, Myanmar, Nicaragua, the UAE, Singapore, Slovakia, Sudan, France, Croatia, and Chile. “Now we have agreements on scientific and technical cooperation with 37 countries. More than 20 intergovernmental commissions/committees have been set up within their framework,” Alexander Shumilin explained.

The main importers of Belarusian hi-tech products are Russia, Ukraine, and other CIS member states. “Besides, we are implementing some cooperation programs with the countries of the European Union and strengthening our ties with China. It is important for us to expand and diversify the export of science-intensive products rather than raw materials,” he emphasized.

Belarus supplies its products to 149 countries. “At the same time, Belarus' presence on the global market of innovative technologies can be assessed by the volume of its export of high-tech products which in 2014 amounted to $8.3 billion, which was well above the target of $5.6 billion,” Alexander Shumilin noted. Today Belarus focuses on the export of hi-tech products. Some 70% of Belarus’ service exports is made up by software development and consulting services.