Mikhail Miatlikov (front L), chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Cambodian Chamber of Commerce acting president Sorn Sokna (front R), shake hands following a signing ceremony in Phnom Penh, Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Photograph: Vireak Mai/Phnom Penh Post

The Cambodian Cham­­ber of Commerce and the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry strengthened trade ties with a bilateral agreement signed yesterday.

According to officials, the agreement on cooperation will promote trade ties between both countries through the establishment of working groups and visits of business delegations.

Mikhail Miatlikov, chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said at the signing that the chamber is comprised of 1,940 member companies and has signed 106 agreements with countries worldwide.

“After we signed the bilateral cooperation documents, we will set up a working group to work together. We will start the co-operation to have results, and we will start to exchange business delegates,” he said.

“We will exhibit Belarusian goods in Cambodia and Cambodian goods in Belarus.”

He said that Cambodia could export fish, milled rice, rubber and tobacco to Belarus, while Belarus could export tractors, heavy machinery and chemical fertilisers.

“I want to buy Cambodian products which my country doesn’t have,” he said.

This year, Belarus-based Minsk Tractor Works will complete the construction of a tractor-assembly factory in Cambodia with the aim of exporting machinery to the Kingdom’s neighbours, he said.

Beginning tomorrow, a new stock of 20 different types of Belarus-produced tractors will be sold on the Cambodian market.

Since January 1, about 100 Belarusian tractors have been sold in the Kingdom.

According to Nguon Meng Tech, director general of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, Minsk Tractor Works has been selling tractors to Cambodia for many years.

Meng Tech said he welcomed the Belarusian delegates seeking business opportunities in Cambodia and added that the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce would help to extend their business projects in the country.

“I welcome whatever the Belarusian side needs. I can accept and facilitate any kind of work,” he said.

Belarusian officials met on Sunday and yesterday with Cambodian leaders including Prime Minister Hun Sen and National Assembly President Heng Samrin to ascertain the support for future investments such as the tractor factory.

Recently, Sorn Sokna, acting president of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce, said most foreign direct investment into Cambodian markets came from Japan, Korea, China, and other ASEAN countries.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rann Reuy at [email protected]