MINSK, 15 May (BelTA ) - Trade in agricultural goods and foodstuffs between Belarus and Russia rose by 2.1% in 2018, Belarus Agriculture and Food Minister Anatoly Khotko said as he addressed a joint meeting of the boards of the agricultural ministries of Belarus and Russia, BelTA has learned.
“The current indicators demonstrate positive dynamics in Belarus-Russia trade and economic cooperation and attest to the close integration between the two countries. In 2018, the trade in agricultural and food products between Belarus and Russia rose by 2.1% to amount to $5.4 billion. Belarus ships products to almost all regions of Russia, while Russian goods are in demand among Belarusian buyers,” Anatoly Khotko said.
The Belarusian side is committed to increasing the supplies of potatoes, eggs, and fish products to Russian regions in 2019. Russia, in turn, has substantial reserves to increase supplies of fodder grain, rapeseed, maize, and oil meal to Belarus.
The strategic partnership between Russia and Belarus in the food sector is one of the most important areas of the economic policy in the Union State and generates important ideas for the further development of integration processes in our countries. We believe that ensuring food security through joint investment projects, R&D and the removal of obstacles and restrictions will facilitate a gradual transition to the common agricultural policy in Belarus and Russia. The joint Union State programs, the adoption of economically sound decisions on the import of agricultural products from third countries which could be produced domestically in sufficient quantities, and protection from unfair competition will strengthen the competitiveness of the food industry in the Union State,” the minister noted.
A joint session of the boards of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry and the Russian Agriculture Ministry is running in Minsk on 15 May.
The agenda features several major items: trade in agricultural products and food, the indicative balances of supply and demand of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in 2019, cooperation in veterinary and phytosanitary oversight, and interaction in the course of implementing Union State programs.
