Vitebsk region has opened up markets of seven countries this year

The Vitebsk region has opened up markets in seven countries this year, reported Konstantin Cherny, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Economy Committee.

He explained that organizations subordinate to the regional executive committee ship products to 50 countries. To diversify sales, the supply of various non-food products to the markets of India, Israel, Ireland, Cameroon, the Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, and Saudi Arabia has begun. Shipments are carried out to 10 out of 56 countries identified by the government as promising: Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Cameroon, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Croatia.

The annual target for exporting goods to new promising markets, set for the regional executive committee by Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 1239, was overfulfilled by three times in January-August 2015. Shipments of products from the region's enterprises to these markets amounted to $6 million, which is 11.6 times more than in the 8 months of 2014. "Communal and non-departmental organizations increased their sales volumes to 20 countries by $19.6 million in 8 months of this year compared to the same period last year. Due to export diversification, supplies to Croatia increased by almost 22 times, to Singapore by 13.2 times, to Spain by 6.8 times, to Armenia and Germany by 2.7 times, to China, Romania, and France by 2.1 times, to Australia and Slovakia by 1.9 times, to Switzerland by 1.8 times, and to the USA by 1.7 times," Konstantin Cherny cited the figures.

In value terms, the export increase was ensured to Latvia by $5.2 million. Lumber accounts for more than half of the total export volume; cable products, lubricant additives, and flax fiber are also shipped. A similar sales increase was observed in Germany, mainly due to supplies of wood pellets, high-pressure hoses, casein, liquefied gas, cable products, and optical instruments. Export volumes to Singapore increased by $5.3 million due to lubricant additives; to the Czech Republic by $1.3 million (cable products, lumber, flax fiber); and to Armenia by $630 thousand (cable products, veterinary drugs, door blocks).

At the same time, the volume of supplies decreased to 21 countries, primarily to Russia - a 24.4% drop in exports to this country, or $124.2 million, was due to a decrease in sales of dairy products, cables, lubricant additives, plastic packaging, and poultry. However, economic cooperation continues with all federal districts and 78 regions. Trade turnover with Kazakhstan decreased by 48.4%, or $12.5 million, due to a reduction in sales of dairy products and cables.

Ekaterina Knyazeva, BELTA.