Vitebsk region increased exports by 32.9% to $194.3 million in January-May.

July 22, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Vitebsk region's exports in January-May increased by 32.9% to $194.3 million, imports grew by 24.4% to $213.4 million. The foreign trade balance was negative, amounting to $19 million, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's economics department informed a BELTA correspondent. The regional executive committee specified that this year, the fulfillment of forecast parameters for foreign trade activities is carried out without taking into account the export and import volumes of enterprises of republican subordination, oil and petroleum products. Communal enterprises increased exports by 38.5% compared to January-May 2009, imports by 42.6%, and the trade balance was positive, amounting to $40.3 million. The most successful were enterprises in the region's meat and dairy industry, including Polotsk Dairy Plant (export growth rate 168%), Lepel Condensed Milk Plant (149%), Glubokoye Meat Processing Plant (178%), Vitebsk Meat Processing Plant (142%), Glubokoye Condensed Milk Plant (153%). In organizations without departmental subordination, exports increased by 33%, imports by 26.9%. The balance was negative, amounting to $57.7 million. In January-May, the Vitebsk region traded with 83 countries. Goods were supplied to the markets of 57 states and imported from 84. The largest share of goods exports (57%) goes to Russia, as well as Estonia, Latvia, China, Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, Germany, and Lithuania.