The Republic of Belarus and the Federal Republic of Germany have been in close economic cooperation for more than 20 years. The Federal Republic of Germany is one of the first countries, which recognized the independence of the Republic of Belarus.
The Federal Republic of Germany is traditionally one of the key economic partners of the Republic of Belarus. Belarus exports to Germany the goods of approximately 400 positions, including the products of heavy industry, agriculture, chemical, timber, woodworking, food industry, textiles and textile products, building materials. In the structure of Belarusian export a proportion of goods with a higher degree of processing (machinery, equipment, vehicles, equipment and tools, chemical products, articles of base metal) is gradually growing. In 2012 the investments in the amount of 185.2 million dollars were received from Germany, 140.7 million dollars of which were direct. In Belarus 352 enterprises with participation of the German capital are registered, 187 of which are joint ventures and 165 are foreign ones. In addition to that, there are 97 representative offices of German firms in the republic.
On March 14, 2013 the International Economic Seminar "The Integrative vector of economic cooperation of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Belarus" was jointly organized by FTUG and a public association "Center for the Study of Foreign Policy and Security" (Minsk). To participate in the seminar Deputy Ambassador of Germany in the Republic of Belarus Peter Dettmar was invited. The Dean of the faculty G.M. Brovka, Doctor of Economics, professor B.I. Gusakov, students and undergraduates of the faculty took part in the seminar. Peter Dettmar made a presentation on "Economic Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Belarus". Professor B.I. Gusakov spoke on «Scientific and innovative component of economic development in Belarus: prospects and forecasts». The students and undergraduates of the faculty actively participated in the discussion of the reports. Full and comprehensive answers were given to the questions concerning economic cooperation of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Belarus, the economic problems of Germany in relation to the European economic crisis (recession and unemployment), the German investments into the Belarusian economy.
Summing up the seminar, Mr. Dettmar noted that the cooperation of Belarus with the countries of the European Union is an important factor of regional stability, strengthening of mutually beneficial economic links and cooperation in various fields. For the Republic of Belarus a German vector allows to ensure a balance of national interests, contributes to the development of the relations with European and international organizations, facilitates the flow of investments and modern technologies and participation in the international division of labor. The German diplomat expressed his satisfaction with the participation in the event, receiving a favorable impression of the meeting with the students of Belarusian National Technical University, and stressed that the seminar program was drawn up to reflect the various aspects of cooperation between Belarus and Germany.
At the end of the seminar the Dean of the faculty G.M. Brovka on behalf of the rector of BNTU, academician of National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Professor, Doctor of Science (Engineering) B. M. Khroustalev presented Mr. Dettmar with a souvenir with an emblem of BNTU.
Senior lecturer of the department « Economics and Law» FTUG
P.A. Janovich