MINSK, 26 June (BelTA) – The Belarusian products are in high demand in Russia's market thanks to their high quality and organic content, Belarusian Deputy Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Minister Irina Narkevich told a press conference timed to the 4th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia on 26 June, BelTA has learned.
“We promote our products in Russia as being organic, high-quality, and in compliance with the GOST state quality standards,” Irina Narkevich said.
In January-April 2017 Belarus' food exports surged by 32.9% over the same period of last year. Food supplies to Russia went up by 30%. There has been an increase in the exports of sausages and meat products, chocolate, bakery, confectionery, and other food products. Belarus' non-food sales rose by 22.3% in foreign markets, including a 21.2% increase in the Russian market. The exports of textile and knitwear to Russia skyrocketed by over 150%.
“Russia is a strategic market. It is of great importance for our companies,” Irina Narkevich noted. According to the deputy minister, the upcoming Forum of Regions due in Moscow on 29-30 June will help the Belarusian manufacturers find new business partners. The event will comprise a fair to showcase and sell Belarusian products. Partaking in the fair will be 57 Belarusian organizations, among them 36 food manufacturers and 21 industrial companies. The visitors will be able to study Belarus' tourism potential and purchase gift certificates to visit Belarusian health resorts or go on guided tours.
The forum is expected to bring some new contracts worth $400 million. Representatives of relevant Belarusian and Russian ministries, departments, and business communities are set to hold sessions. They will discuss the possibilities of promoting high-technology competitive Belarusian and Russian ventures, scientific and technical cooperation, the role of IT in developing civil society institutions in the Belarus-Russia Union State, the issues and prospects of aligning the laws within the context of integration and the prospects of their respective companies in building IT partnerships. The sides will also touch upon the matters of cooperation between Belarusian and Russian cities and regions, and also the possibilities of expanding interstate business contacts.
The upcoming plenary session will be themed around Belarus-Russia interregional partnership in high technology, innovations, and information society. The Belarus-Russia interparliamentary commission for interregional cooperation is scheduled to hold a session, too.
The Forum of Regions is designed to expand direct contacts between Belarusian and Russian executive, legislature powers, business communities and to work out the recommendations for improving the legal framework in order to boost economic growth. The event is powered by the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus and the Council of the Federation of Russia's Federal Assembly.
