On December 1, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Investments of Latvian capital in the economy of Belarus for January-November are estimated at $85 million, half of which are direct, as reported today to journalists in Vitebsk by the Ambassador of Belarus to Latvia Alexander Gerasimenko, BELTA correspondent reports. Latvia is among the four main trading partners of Belarus. By the end of the current year, mutual trade turnover is expected to reach $3 billion. Alexander Gerasimenko also noted the developed business relations: over 1.2 thousand joint ventures operate in the two countries, including 685 in Belarus. Latvian business is actively investing in Belarus, having invested a total of over $700 million since 2005. According to Alexander Gerasimenko, the opening of small border traffic, which started today, will contribute to the further development of friendly and business contacts between Belarus and Latvia. Today, an exchange of written notifications on the completion of internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the agreement between the governments of Belarus and Latvia on the simplified procedure for mutual travel of residents of border territories took place in Vitebsk. According to the Economics Committee of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, the foreign trade turnover of the Vitebsk region with Latvia for January-September amounted to $81.7 million with a positive balance of almost $62 million. Trade turnover increased by 54.3% compared to the same period last year. More than 40 organizations with Latvian capital are registered in the region. Enterprises are registered in the fields of trade, woodworking, provision of transport services, and clothing manufacturing. -0-

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