MINSK, 1 December (BelTA) – Representatives of Russian companies visited the central office of the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE) as part of a business delegation of Russia's Leningrad Oblast. They mentioned their companies are ready to sell confectionery, packaging materials, and furniture of their own make via the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange, BUCE Press Secretary Roman Yaniv told BelTA.
The visit was arranged with assistance of the Trade Promotion Office of the Russian Federation in Belarus and the Leningrad Oblast Export Promotion Office.
These Russian goods will be sold via the digital B2B platform of the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange where similar products are already traded. In particular, deals to sell office furniture, food, and various kinds of packaging are made virtually every week. As much as Br1 million worth of chocolate coating was sold in the last few months. As for products made by Leningrad Oblast enterprises, they can be bought by Belarusian enterprises and state-owned organizations that use the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange as an alternative to conventional tenders.
The BUCE press service noted that BUCE's B2B platform can automatically inform potential buyers about new offers to sell the goods they have already bought before. For instance, if a Leningrad Oblast manufacturer of office chairs places an offer to sell office chairs with BUCE, all the organizations that have previously bought similar furniture, will get the relevant notification. The B2B platform will allow Russian companies to find customers in Belarus without wasting money on marketing. In turn, Belarusian consumers will get access to offers of Russian manufacturers. It allows the former to save a considerable amount of money in most cases.
At present 296 commercial entities from Russia's Leningrad Oblast are accredited with the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange. About one third of them regularly participate in trading sessions. Leningrad Oblast primarily buys portland cement, meat and dairy products and sells goods made of ferrous metals and coal.
The public joint-stock company (OAO) Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange was established in 2004. The first trade sessions took place in June 2005. BUCE is one of the largest mercantile exchanges in Eastern Europe. Its key function is to assist Belarusian companies with exporting their products and assist foreign companies with entering the Belarusian market. The commodity exchange facilitates trade in metals, timber, agricultural products, and a broad choice of industrial and consumer goods.
