Ukraine wants to develop trade and economic relations with Belarus and increase Ukrainian supplies, First Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov has said.

"Belarus is an important trade and economic partner for us. Last year, trade between the two countries reached a record $7.5 billion We want to increase it and use it as fully as possible," the government's press service quoted him as saying during his working visit to Belarus.

Arbuzov said that the fulfillment of tasks set by Ukrainian and Belarusian Presidents Viktor Yanukovych and Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting in Kyiv on July 18 was a priority.

He also stressed the importance of implementing the agreements that were reached at a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation on May 22.

"We outlined a number of concrete areas to enhance interaction. I'm confident that our future work will be intense. It will help see real, positive results," Arbuzov said.

He also expressed the need to address such issues as the situation with the products of the Roshen and Inkerman brands, increase transport licenses and expand the presence of Ukrainian airlines in the Belarusian airspace.

"I'm confident that systematic work will help achieve concrete results. The volume of foreign trade between the two countries will depend on the effectiveness of our work," Arbuzov said.