MINK, 13 March (BelTA) – Belarus' export of agricultural products and food to Russia in 2019 amounted to $4.3 billion, which was up by 3% over 2018, Aleksei Bogdanov, Head of the Central Office for Foreign Economic Activities of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry, said at a joint meeting of the boards of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry and the Russian Ministry of Agriculture in the format of a video conference, BelTA has learned.
Belarus' Agriculture and Food Minister Anatoly Khotko and Russian Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev discussed the key issues related to the development of relations between the two countries in agriculture. “We are committed to serious work, to finding new forms of cooperation and implementing joint projects in agriculture with our Russian colleagues,” Anatoly Khotko noted.
The meeting summed up the results of 2019. Belarus' export of agricultural products to Russia in 2019 amounted to $4.3 billion, which was up by 3%. “The growth was due both to the increase in selling prices and to the increase in the supply of certain types of dairy products, canned vegetables and fruits, confectionery, fish, fish products, rapeseed oil, flax fiber and other goods. At the same time, the supply of certain types of agricultural products, including meat and meat products, decreased. Therefore, removing barriers in the market of the Union State of Belarus and Russia is an important area of further joint work,” Aleksei Bogdanov said.
Last year, Belarus imported $1.5 billion worth of agricultural products from Russia. Belarus increased the imports of pork, grain, oilseed residues, confectionery, tinned products, beef, dairy products and vegetables.
The trade in farm produce and food products between Belarus and Russia went up 4.7% to make up $5.8 billion in 2019. “In general, we see positive dynamics of mutual trade. As for 2020, the mutual deliveries of meat and dairy products are carried out in accordance with the supply balances for this year,” the department said.
According to the press service of the Agriculture and Food Ministry, Belarus and Russia have been developing trade not only in traditional (meat, dairy and crop) products, but also in high-technology goods. These are seeds and planting material, breeding stock, plant protection products, veterinary medicines and fodder additives, modern agricultural equipment. These products are used to implement new technologies into agricultural production, increase its efficiency and competitiveness .
