MINSK, September 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia-Belarus trade is expected to reach $20 billion by the end of this year, a senior official in the Russia-Belarus union state said ahead of the first bilateral economic forum.
Valery Drozd, the union state's deputy state secretary, told a news conference devoted to the first Russian-Belarusian economic forum due to open in Minsk on Tuesday, that last year's trade between the two countries was about $18 billion.
After VAT began being charged on the country of destination on January 1, 2005, trade between the two countries shrunk. Belarus is now Russia's sixth major trade partner, falling from second place last year.
"In comparative terms, excluding VAT, trade grew by 4.5% in the first six months as compared to the same period last year," Drozd said.
He said bilateral economic cooperation was encouraged by the intensive transit of Russian cargo via Belarusian territory.
"Belarus is the shortest and the only way to Europe," Drozd said.
