MINSK, 4 December (BelTA) – The Belarusian-Polish humanitarian cooperation is gaining momentum, Director of the Humanitarian Activities Department of the Belarus President Property Management Directorate Valery Skakun said at a Belarusian-Polish conference on 4 December, BelTA has learned.

Last year, Poland was Belarus' sixth largest trade partner and its fifth largest investor. “Cooperation between Belarus and Poland in humanitarian affairs is also gradually gaining momentum. At the start of the ongoing five-year period the volume of the corresponding funds amounted to about €500,000. In 2018, this figure reached almost €900,000,” said Valery Skakun.

He emphasized a big role of the Polish embassy in supporting projects aimed at the social integration of disabled people, enhancing the infrastructure of social protection, education and sports institutions. “Time does not stand still, and today foreign gratuitous aid goes not only to social projects, but also to entrepreneurship and environmental projects. These areas have recently been a priority for financing,” said Valery Skakun.

Valery Skakun

As an example, he cited the development of a sailing school in Braslav, a care home in Borovlyany for parents and children who need treatment, and the creation of jobs for disabled people in Baranovichi.

“Good human ties emerging in the process of implementation of these projects bring our countries closer together. By joint efforts, we will be able to build on our achievements, while the year 2020 will be a year of deepening partnership relations, implementation of new plans and untapped potential,” Valery Skakun said.

Attending the event was Deputy Labor and Social Protection Minister Aleksandr Rumak, Poland's Ambassador to Belarus Artur Michalski, UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki, UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus Alexandra Solovieva, and UNICEF representative to Belarus Rashed Mustafa Sarwar.