MINSK, 26 December (BelTA) – What initiatives the Belarusian state light industry concern Bellegprom has suggested via the Eurasian Economic Commission platform this year has been explained to BelTA by Bellegprom Deputy Chairwoman Natalia Moroz.
During Belarus’ presidency of the Eurasian Economic Union, the Bellegprom concern actively and systematically worked on the Eurasian Economic Commission platform. “For us this is primarily a tool for protecting and promoting interests of Belarusian light industry manufacturers. It is also a platform for creating favorable conditions for their development within the framework of the union,” Natalia Moroz said.
The work proceeded in several areas: from participation in discussions about parameters of agreements on free trade zones and other integration decisions to the detailed elaboration of initiatives of the EAEU member states affecting the conditions of access to raw materials and materials for the manufacturing sector. At the same time, the concern formed and promoted its own proposals aimed at reducing enterprise costs and developing manufacturing cooperation.
“A good example of such work is the systematic support provided to OAO Vitebsk Carpets. Since 2017 the concern has consistently sought to eliminate import customs duties on polypropylene yarn and latex used to make carpet flooring. It allowed the company to direct the saved funds to the implementation of an import substitution investment project meant to organize its own production of polypropylene yarns and significantly reduce its dependence on imports. The customs exemption for latex has now been extended until the end of 2027,” said the deputy head of the Bellegprom concern.
Apart from that, in 2023 upon Bellegprom’s initiative OAO Vitebsk Carpets also received a customs exemption for the import of backing cloth for a period of two years. “The economic effect on this item exceeds €200,000 annually. The work involved in securing such decisions requires considerable effort: it is necessary not only to coordinate the position within the country with all the relevant authorities, but also to prove the need for the exemption in the Eurasian Economic Commission and obtain the consent of all member states of the union. Practice indicates that this work is fully justified. At present the matter of extending this exemption until the end of 2027 is in its final stage, with the EEC Council expected to make the decision in February 2026,” Natalia Moroz noted.
“I would like to draw attention to the joint work with the Russian side on eliminating import customs duties on gimp yarn, a key raw material for the production of hosiery. About $10 million worth of the product is imported every year while the import duty rate is at 5%. The implementation of this initiative will allow leading manufacturers, primarily SOOO Conte Spa and OAO Brest Stocking Mill, to save up to $500,000 per year,” she added. “Apart from that, the decision on the matter of establishing customs preferences for a period of five years for a number of chemical materials for the leather and footwear industry as well as certain goods of the chemical industry is in its final stage. This matter has been submitted for consideration of the relevant EEC commission, which session is scheduled for 30 December 2025.”
On the whole, Belarus’ cooperation with its EAEU partners in the light industry sector is stable and practice-oriented, both in terms of export deliveries and the development of manufacturing cooperation projects and import substitution projects aimed at strengthening the union’s industrial potential, Natalia Moroz concluded.
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