Landing in Venezuela

A National Belarusian Exhibition is to be held in Venezuela in the near future. A governmental delegation and executives of several enterprises arrive in Karakas on Monday, December 3. Some of them are to be Hugo Chavez’s guests only for three days; others will stay in Venezuela for more than two weeks.

According to “Belarusski Partyzan,” the Belarusian delegation comprises about 300 members, with 80 authorities, journalists, security, and maintenance staff.

Enterprise BelInterEkspo of the Belarusian Chamber of Trade and Industry is in charge of the visit of the finance and industrial delegation. Moreover, several authorities of the enterprise left for Venezuela on November 27.

The following enterprises are to represent Belarus in Venezuela: Metal Constructions Plant of Maladzechna, Minsk Bearing Plant, Minsk Automobile Plant, Milk and Tinned Foodstuff Factory of Glybokaye, “Belshyna,” Liqueur and Vodka Plant of Minsk, “Slodych” factory, “Vityaz,” Hosiery Plant of Brest, “Atlant,” Tool Plant of Vorsha, “Gomeloboi,” Belbiofarm, etc.

The delegation also includes representatives of the Scientific Institute of oncology, Belgosstrakh (Belarusian major insurance company), National Academy of Sciences, Hi-Tech Park (the name of Valery Tsapkala is listed), Information Ministry (“Belarusski Partyzan” is informed that deputy minister Lidziya Ananich is to go to Venezuela instead of Minister Uladzimir Rusakevich), Institutes of cardiology and traumatic surgery.

Each enterprise was commissioned with arranging a so called souvenir fund. The Belarusian gifts will certainly be presented at the companies’ own expense.

The two-way ticket to Venezuela and back via Frankfurt from Moscow costs $ 1629, so that only tickets for the entire delegation are to cost about half a million dollars. And together with travel allowance, accommodation, etc, the Belarusian Exhibition will cost a pretty penny – more than two million dollars.