Ambassador: Iraq willing to send more students to Belarus

GOMEL, 19 May (BelTA) - Iraq is interested in increasing the number of its students and postgraduates at universities of Belarus, including the universities of Gomel Oblast, Iraqi Ambassador to Belarus Haidar Hadi said as he met with Chairman of the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee Vladimir Dvornik, BelTA has learned.

According to the diplomat, the Iraqi students are satisfied with the living conditions in the regional center and are happy with the quality of teaching at local universities. The Ambassador met with students the day before. The number of people willing to study in Belarus may increase because of the worsening situation in neighboring Ukraine, he noted.

The meeting focused on the development of business relations between Iraq and Gomel Oblast. The merchandize trade between the countries is not big, the two sides unanimously acknowledged. Vladimir Dvornik presented the region’s economic potential to the high guest and expressed readiness to take up all necessary steps in expanding economic and humanitarian contacts. “Gomel Oblast has a huge competitive production potential. There are over 300 large and medium-sized industrial companies there which account for more than 22% of the country’s industrial manufacturing,” the Governor said.

The first step towards constructive cooperation might be made in the near future already. In early June Belarus is expected to welcome a big delegation of Iraqi businessmen. Their commercial interests lie, first of all, in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.