MINSK, 14 June (BelTA) - Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko is making a working trip to Grodno Oblast on 14 June. The head of state is visiting the country’s infant milk powder and baby food producer Bellakt in Volkovysk, BelTA has learned.
Upon arrival at the enterprise, Aleksandr Lukashenko first asked about the fieldwork and progress in planting and recultivation activities. Grodno Oblast Governor Yuri Karayev reported to the president that everything had been sown and that some places had even been necessary to resow.
“I thought I would see a much better situation in Volkovysk District,” the head of state remarked, speaking about the things he saw from the helicopter.
The governor assured him that things would improve.
Aleksnadr Lukashenko was briefed on the social and economic development of Grodno Oblast. Although the gross regional product in the region is higher than last year's figures, it still falls short of the set targets. According to Yuri Karayev, agriculture, construction, and trade are showing positive growth, while the manufacturing sector stills needs to make progress.
The nominal average monthly salary in the region and fixed capital investments are showing advanced growth.
The president also asked about the situation in the northern districts of Grodno Oblast.
The governor informed the president about the progress in the One District-One Project program. According to him, the region is currently implementing 25 projects under this program.
“What about farming machinery, agricultural chemicals, and district supply services? Are you working on these matters? Have they been restored in every district?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked. “You have seen what needs to be done. You know how to restore them. We need to clearly understand what we are going to do there.”
The head of state was reported that there was still a lot of work to be done in the area.
The president was also informed about the situation in Volkovysk District. In particular, the region has seen a decline in beef and pork production. The reasons are well known. For example, as far as beef is concerned, there is insufficient livestock numbers in the area. Meanwhile, livestock mortality has significantly decreased in the district.
“If your livestock is dying in Mogilev, give it to him. Well, do not give it to away, but sell it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said addressing Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Shuleiko. “God help you if I make more remarks about livestock mortality somewhere, while he has free space for fattening operations. You will all be held accountable! You will have to answer for the livestock. Take it to a good farm and let it fatten it up. There will probably be no livestock losses there at all.”
The head of state was also scheduled to be briefed on the operation of Bellakt. The president, however, said that he was aware of the enterprise’s strong performance and immediately headed to the production facilities, inviting to discuss everything during the tour.
Aleksandr Lukashenko examined the production base of the enterprise, visited the baby food packaging section, and got familiar with the product range. The enterprise is gearing up to launch a new PET bottling line for dairy products. The move will secure maximum expansion of the product range. The new workshop will process 100 tonnes of milk per day.
The head of state was also shown products from dairy processing enterprises of Grodno Oblast. These include Bellakt, Lida Dairy Canning Plant, and Molochny Mir.
Tatyana Novikova, chief technologist at Bellakt, has been working on baby food and expansion of the product range for 40 years. “We are especially proud of our paste-like baby food. It contains virtually no sugar. We have been getting our children used to eat unsweetened products for three years now. We have a line of preschool and school food products. This market niche is currently empty in our country. We have developed a substitute for ‘tasty’ desserts,” she said, presenting the enterprise's products.
Volkovysk-based Bellakt is Belarus’ only producer dry milk mixtures and porridges for feeding infants under one year and older children. In 2014, the enterprise started producing liquid and paste-like baby food. In November 2018, it launched the production of dry cereals based on goat's milk for feeding young children.
Bellakt also produces dry whole and skimmed milk, dry whey, butter, and a wide range of whole milk and dessert products. The range of products includes more than 200 items.
The milk processing capacity is 865 tonnes per day. In January-April 2025, the milk processing capacity utilization rate was 95.5%.
The Bellakt raw material zone covers four districts of Grodno Oblast and comprises 24 farms.
In January-April 2025, the enterprise’s production sites produced goods worth Br204.3 million at actual prices, which is almost 12% up over the months in 2024. The main exports include milk powder (58.2%), butter (15.7%), dry baby food (14.4%), whole milk and other milk products (11.7%).
Bellakt sells its products to 19 countries. The geography of supplies includes Russia (69%), Uzbekistan (6.7%), Serbia (5%), Kazakhstan (5.1%), Mongolia (1.2%), Armenia (1.2%), Vietnam (1.1%), China (0.8%), Azerbaijan (0.7%), Georgia (0.5%), and other countries (8.7%).
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