Venezuela will deliver oil to Belarus. Venezuelan oil will be refined at Belarusian companies and then sold on the European market. Presidents of Belarus and Venezuela Alexander Lukashenko and Hugo Chávez reached an agreement thereon during their talks in Caracas on 15 March during the official visit of the Belarusian Head of State to Venezuela.

It is the second time the Belarusian Leader travels to Venezuela on an official visit.

Within a short time, Belarus and Venezuela have reached a level of strategic partnership. The regulatory legal framework comprises over 20 interstate, intergovernmental and interagency agreements. The bilateral trade has soared in recent years. While in 2006 it stood at mere $6 million, in 2009 it went beyond $230 million. Belarus’ exports make up a large part of the trade turnover. Several projects in the social field, energy industry and military and technical area have been piloted in Venezuela.

Alexander Lukashenko attaches particular importance to the present visit.

Following the talks, the two presidents agreed that assistance would be provided to Belarus. The agreements on oil supply and energy cooperation are expected to be signed in the near term.

The joint Belarusian-Venezuelan company Petrolera BeloVenezolana extracts about 1 million tonnes of oil per year. “We will increase the oil production for the common benefit of both countries,” added the Belarusian President.

Apart from that, the two presidents have reached an agreement that Belarus will provide gas supply to Venezuelan cities and rural communities. “In the forthcoming year we are going to build three or four plants manufacturing tractors, cars and trucks, and a brick-making plant in Venezuela,” said the President of Belarus. A Belarusian trading house will be established in Venezuela following the suggestion of Hugo Chávez.

The President of Venezuela said that his country is interested in acquiring Belarusian technologies. “It is nice to see you in Venezuela and we are ready to continue the formation of our alliance,” the Venezuelan President said to Alexander Lukashenko. Hugo Chávez also emphasized the importance and significance of sci-tech cooperation between the two states.