Photo from UNIAN
The project is aimed at the development of logistics and transportation of goods between the two countries using river transport.
The State Enterprise Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) and Belarusian-based CJSC Beltopenergo have agreed on the relaunch of river navigation between Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus.
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The relevant agreement was reached in Kyiv on Monday, December 17, according to the USPA's press service.
The project is aimed at the development of logistics and transportation of goods between Ukraine and Belarus using river transport, the creation of new jobs, and the attraction of new cargo traffic to the Ukrainian seaports.
"The USPA will consider the possibility of dredging on navigable waterways of the Dnipro River. The Belarusian side will provide us with information about the planned transshipment [of goods] and parameters of the vessels being used. Based on this, we'll analyze the financial and economic efficiency of the necessary work to achieve the guaranteed depths of the navigable channel," the press service quoted Deputy Chairman of the USPA Administration Dmytro Romensky as saying.
Beltopenergo also plans to provide Ukrainian partners with information on the timing of the construction of a port in the village of Nizhniy Zhary, Belarus' Gomel region.
"The company also undertakes to consider the possibility of ensuring Belarusian suppliers' cargo traffic so that dredging works pay back," the report said.
The two sides also signed the relevant memorandum of cooperation.
"The document was signed by Deputy Chairman of the USPA Administration Dmytro Romensky and Beltopenergo CEO Vasily Varfolomeev. Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Viktor Dovhan and Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Belarus Alexey Lyakhnovich took part in the signing ceremony as well," the report said.
The project will contribute to the implementation of a roadmap to improve navigation along the Dnipro and Pripyat rivers as part of a project for the development of the E-40 international waterway, it said. It will be in line with decisions taken by the Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Belarusian Mixed Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.