MINSK, 3 February (BelTA) – Belarus' export of transport services hit a record high of $4.3 billion in 2021. The Transport and Communications Ministry voiced these figures at a meeting to sum up 2021, BelTA learned from the press service of the Transport and Communications Ministry.
"Despite all the challenges, the Belarusian transport industry operated steadily. In 2021 the Transport and Communications Ministry worked to improve the conditions for the transport industry, develop its infrastructure, and ensure the country's sustainable development. These goals are envisioned in the state programs ‘Transport Complex' and ‘Roads of Belarus',” the press service said.
The transport industry met the main targets of the social and economic development. "The key target, namely the export of transport services, was met. The share of international traffic in the total volume of cargo turnover was about 76%, passenger turnover - 27%. In 2021, export of transport services hit a record high of $4.3 billion," the ministry said.
Over the past year, the aggregate cargo turnover amounted to 119 billion tkm; 385 million tonnes of cargo were transported. The growth was due to new destinations and better logistics chains.
Container transportation by rail rose rapidly. Almost 800,000 containers TEU were transported in the East-West-East route in 2021, up by 1.2 times over 2020.
"Passenger turnover posted positive dynamics. The growth drivers were railway (120%) and aviation (160%), which accounted for almost half of the total passenger traffic. This was facilitated by the resumption of international passenger rail service between Belarus and Russia, an increase of 3.4 times," the press service explained.
Reconstruction of the Pererub hydroelectric complex on the eastern slope of the Dnieper-Bug Canal was completed in 2021. Sections of the roads P53 Sloboda - Novosady, P23 Minsk - Mikashevichi, P16 Tyukhinichi - Vysokoye - the border of Poland (Peschatka) and the bridge across the Orlyanka River on the M7 were opened.
Plans are in place to complete the reconstruction of the bridge across the Western Dvina at the entrance to Novopolotsk by November 2022 and to open traffic on five bridges by the end of the year. There are also plans to reconstruct the R23 Minsk-Mikashevichi on the section from Soligorsk to Starobin, P53 on the section from Smolevichi to Zhodino, to construct a bypass of the town of Mir and to continue the construction of the south-western bypass of Mogilev.
The local road sector are to repair 1,400km of roads and 860 running meters of bridges.
"The aviation industry will draw up a flight program for 2022, including taking into account the summer charter programs. In terms of air cargo transportation, plans are in place to launch regular flights to the Asian region by attracting the country's largest logistics operators. National Airport Minsk will be in for another round of development," the ministry said.
Last year, Belarusian Railways completed the electrification of the Zhlobin-Kalinkovichi section, which made it possible to bring the share of electrified sections to 25%. As for the renewal of rolling stock, Belarusian Railways acquired six five-car electric trains made by Stadler Minsk.
To promote trade and economic cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union and the people's Republic of China, Belarusian Railways is implementing a pilot project to convert to an end-to-end e-transit consignment note on the China-Europe-China route. An empty train with an electronic consignment note made a trial run on the route Brest - Dostyk / Altynkol in November 2021.
The road transport sector faces two key tasks: to improve the conditions for international cargo transportation and passenger transportation. "In 2021, transport organizations of municipal ownership purchased 437 buses, 163 trolleybuses, 18 electric buses (196 buses, 84 trolleybuses and 9 electric buses in 2020)," the ministry said.
“To simplify the interaction of all participants in the transport market, work will continue to develop the common digital landscape of trust which will provide the full range of services related to logistics, transportation of passengers and cargo,” the press service added.
