Belarus, a former Russian Federation country with an industry-driven economy has expressed interest in assembling agro-automotives such as tractors and other heavy duty automobiles in Sri Lanka.

A 14-member Balarus business delegation led by Delhi-based Ambassador of Belarus to Sri Lanka Vitaly Prima is currently in town.

“If there are any Lankan firms willing to partner with Belarus automotive sector and start here, we are open to them,” Prima said.

The delegation also has expressed willingness in providing the latest extraction technologies for mineral extractions.

“Our extraction institutions have necessary design and delivery capacities and are already working with many other countries, at international level,” Prima said.

Belarus is the world’s third largest potash supplier after Canada and Brazil.

Sri Lanka’s main export item to Belarus has been tea (90 percent of its total exports to Belarus in 2012). Other export items are new pneumatic tyres, used pneumatic tyres, articles for packing of goods.

Fertilizers (Potassium Chloride) has been the major import item from Belarus contributing to 99 percent of total imports in from Belarus in 2012.