MINSK, 16 July (BelTA) – The export of Belarusian goods to Uzbekistan in January-May 2020 increased by 1.2% year-on-year, up to $68.7 million, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Embassy in Uzbekistan.
Over the five months of this year, the trade between Belarus and Uzbekistan reached $86.6 million. The export of goods, excluding oil, petroleum products and nitrogen fertilizers, amounted to $68 million in January-May, up 2% over this period.
The Belarusian diplomatic mission noted that Belarus' export to Uzbekistan rose on the back of several commodities, including frozen beef (up $6.1 million, or 115.2 times), fresh or chilled beef (up $6.5 million, or 3.9 times), vaccines, blood serum and blood (up $4.6 million, or 137.1 times). The supplies of sugar and vinyl chloride polymers were also resumed. The export of prepackaged medicines increased by 73%, the sale of rolling stock component parts increased 5.2 times, the sale of special-purpose machines and mechanical devices rose 9 times, that of milk powder expanded by almost 38%. The export of Belarus-made printed books and brochures increased significantly (by $0.7 million).
Other major export items included tractors and truck tractors (Belarus shipped machinery worth $9.7 million to Uzbekistan), trucks ($5 million), meat and poultry byproducts ($1.8 million), component parts and accessories for cars and tractors ($1.4 million).
In January-May 2020 Belarus imported $17.9 million worth of products from Uzbekistan, down by almost 11%. Belarus' trade surplus in goods reached $50.8 million.
“At the same time, despite the pandemic, the embassy is making every effort to maintain and strengthen business contacts between the two countries. However, due to temporary restrictions caused by the coronavirus, this assistance is provided online," the diplomatic mission said. For example, deputy prime ministers of Belarus and Uzbekistan held a video conference in May to discuss a wide range of issues. In June, an online meeting was held between Belarus' Deputy Industry Minister Dmitry Kharitonchik and Uzbekistan's First Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Laziz Kudratov. Taking part in the meeting were the heads of the embassies of the two countries and heads of more than 20 industrial enterprises and organizations. The parties discussed cooperation in the manufacturing sector and supplies of industrial products. Representatives of the Agriculture and Food Ministry of Belarus held a similar event to discuss joint agricultural projects.
"Despite the re-introduction of quarantine measures in Uzbekistan, including restrictions on movement and the remote working requirement, the embassy is doing its best to support business activity and maintain export growth," the Belarusian diplomatic mission said.
