Belarus helps Russia substitute imports from unfriendly countries

MOSCOW, 19 December (BelTA) – Belarus helps Russia substitute imports from unfriendly countries. Russian Economic Development Minister Maksim Reshetnikov made the statement at a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in Moscow on 19 December, BelTA has learned.

Maksim Reshetnikov said: “Belarusian companies have helped us substitute imports from unfriendly countries, primarily household chemicals, road construction and maintenance machines, agricultural machines. Shipments of equipment for mechanical engineering industry and metallurgy have increased by nearly a third. In turn, we've increased the export of metals, chemical products, pulp and paper industry products. We've substituted imported medications, plastics, electric equipment, pumps, railway cars.”

Maksim Reshetnikov also pointed out a record-high increase in Belarus-Russia trade. “Mutual trade rose by 10% in January-October to reach $34.5 billion. Import from Belarus rose by 38%. We expect a new record high as a result of this year,” he remarked.

“It is more intensive integration that has helped us raise trade and alleviate the economic downturn as a result of sanctions as a whole. The dynamics of the GDP of the Union State of Belarus and Russia turned out to be substantially higher than projections of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank,” the official stressed.

He attributed the more intensive integration primarily to progress in implementation of Union State programs. “So far 613 measures and projects out of the planned number of 989 measures and projects have been implemented or 62%,” Maksim Reshetnikov said.

A government hour took place during the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. It was dedicated to reviewing progress in executing Ordinance No.6 that the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Belarus and Russia issued on 4 November 2021. The ordinance stipulates the main directions of realization of the Union State Foundation Treaty in 2021-2023.