MINSK, 8 April (BelTA) – It is necessary to update export strategies of Belarusian companies on the Ukrainian market in order to considerably increase mutual trade in 2019, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Ukraine Igor Sokol said in an interview with BelTA.
According to the Belarusian embassy, in January-February 2019 the bilateral trade remained on the growth track rising by 2.6%, while Belarus' export expanded by 4.7%. “At the same time, this growth fell short of our expectations. This matter is to be discussed at a government session hosted by Belarus Deputy Premier Igor Lyashenko. The major objective of the forthcoming event is to make amendments to the export strategies of Belarusian companies operating on the Ukrainian market,” Igor Sokol said.
The diplomat emphasized that the two-month results are not conclusive. Provisional results can be discussed in the second half of the year. “I can assure that the embassy is ready to provide assistance to Belarusian exporters seeking to enter the Ukrainian market (after all, Ukraine is a neighboring state, which means fewer transport expenses and better logistics). However, we also expect adequate action from domestic companies,” he noted.
When asked if the trade target of $8 billion will be reached this year, the head of the diplomatic mission explained that this target was prompted by the determination of the presidents of Belarus and Ukraine to restore the high level of trade the two countries used to have. In his words, for the embassy this figure is not a forecast, but rather a task set by the president.
“The government has already developed a roadmap with a set of measures to achieve the goal. It implies more active participation of Belarusian companies in exhibition events in Ukraine, discussions of cooperation issues by joint working groups and commissions, and expansion of commodity distribution networks of Belarusian exporters in Ukraine,” Igor Sokol informed.
In his view, there are reserves to boost supplies of Belarusian farm machines and building materials to Ukraine, to step up cooperation in the services sector, including in oil service.
The bilateral trade expanded by nearly 20% in 2018 to reach about $5.5 billion, of which $4 billion was Belarusian export. Belarusian companies diversified their exports by adding 93 new product names to the export assortment. Exports of products reached record-high levels (excluding petroleum products, associated petroleum gases and hydrocarbons, potash and nitrogen fertilizers) of about $1.5 billion accounting for 36% of Belarus' total exports to Ukraine. This is by 17 percentage points (or $400 million) more than in 2012, the year when Belarus' export to Ukraine was record-high.
In 2018, the export of services also grew reaching $197 million, up by nearly a quarter over 2017. The Belarusian export of services was dominated by transport, business, computer, telecom and information services. The trade in services was estimated at $330 million, with Belarus having a trade surplus.
