An archive photo
MINSK, 22 January (BelTA) – Over the past four years, Belarus-Serbia trade in food and agricultural raw materials has tripled. The export of Belarusian food products to Serbia rose by 63.3% in January-November 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Belarus told BelTA.
Serbia is a key partner of Belarus in the Balkans. The two countries have a free trade agreement and a visa-free regime. The bilateral trade in food and agricultural raw materials, as well as the export of Belarusian foodstuffs to Serbia, are on the rise. The main exports are dairy products (cheese, dry milk, butter), yeast, and fresh potatoes.
The day before, Belarus' Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Vadim Shagoiko met with Nenad Popović, Serbia's minister without portfolio in charge of international economic cooperation and the social position of the church in the country and abroad, Co-Chair of the Belarus-Serbia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.
“Serbia is an important trade and economic partner for us, and we highly value the friendly relations we have built, including bilateral cooperation in agriculture and food supplies,” Deputy Minister Vadim Shagoiko said addressing the Serbian delegation. “I am convinced that regular meetings of working groups will not only help us build a better understanding of our progress, but will also contribute to expanding bilateral relations,” he remarked.
With this in mind, the Belarusian side proposed holding the next, sixth, meeting of the Belarus-Serbia working group in the near future. As was remarked, Belarus is interested in ramping up trade, expanding cooperation in plant production, holding exhibitions and fairs, increasing the supplies of dairy products.
Nenad Popović also highlighted the need to deepen integration and expand bilateral trade. He thanked Belarus for the highest-level fraternal support and assistance.
“Our current potential is great. We hope to give an impetus to cooperation in the agro-industrial sector and food supplies, and we will strive to intensify, expand and improve relations. Given the existing favorable prerequisites, we just need to be systematic and consistent in our work,” the Serbian minister summarized.
On 22 January, a meeting will be held between Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Artur Karpovich, who co-chairs the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, and Nenad Popović. They are to thrash out plans to increase interaction in trade and economy as a whole.
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