Vitebsk region's exports increased by 37.6% in January-September

November 16, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. The export of enterprises and organizations of the Vitebsk region in January-September 2010 increased by 37.6% compared to the same period last year and amounted to $424.1 million, the Economics Committee of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. Imports grew by 27.5% to $421.3 million. The foreign trade balance was positive at $2.8 million (excluding export and import volumes of goods from enterprises of republican subordination, oil and petroleum products). The share of exports from residents of the FEZ "Vitebsk" in the total export volume of the region was 23%, and from enterprises without departmental subordination - 21.2%. Woodworking products, cables, garments and knitwear, fire-fighting equipment, additives for lubricating oils, and other goods are supplied to foreign markets. Trade in January-September was conducted with 105 countries. Goods were supplied to the markets of 74 states and imported from 95 countries. The main trading partners of the region were Russia (70.7% of the total trade turnover), Kazakhstan (3.5%), China (2.7%), Germany (2.5%), Ukraine (2.1%), the Netherlands (2.6%), Estonia and Latvia (1.5% each), Poland (1.4%). Measures taken to diversify export supplies and develop new markets have made it possible to increase product supplies to Greece (168 times), Ireland (78 times), Argentina (28 times), India (25 times), South Africa (10 times), Cyprus (9 times), Libya, China, Brazil, as well as to enter the markets of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and other countries. Export of services, which accounts for 4.9% of the region's total export volume, amounted to $50.5 million for the nine months, or 112% compared to the same period last year. A positive balance of $27.3 million was achieved. A decrease in exports is noted for transport services, whose share in the total volume of service exports is 61.6%. At the same time, exports of construction services increased 3.5 times, tourism services - 1.5 times, educational services - 1.4 times, and healthcare services - 1.9 times.-0-