Business news

Belarus' customs applies new approaches in wake of difficulties on EU border

MINSK, 16 September (BelTA) – The Belarusian customs service has become more flexible and more accessible for local businesses, Chairman of the Belarusian State Customs Committee Vladimir Orlovsky said as he presented his report to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 16 September, BelTA has learned.

Only five out of 26 border checkpoints are functioning currently on the Belarusian border: two checkpoints on the Polish border, two on Lithuanian border and one on the Latvian border.

According to Vladimir Orlovsky, closure of border checkpoints and deliberate obstruction of Belarusian cargo movement by neighboring countries has certainly changed the situation at the customs.

"In this regard, we are changing our technologies and approaches. Full support of our enterprises is the most important thing. We help them to redirect logistics to the East. Logistics has become more complex and multi-tiered. We are changing our technology so that we can clear shipments at any available checkpoint. We use these technologies all the time. If there is a need to handle shipments at night, we have round-the-clock checkpoints. Belarusian customs has become more flexible and more accessible for our business," Vladimir Orlovsky emphasized.

This year cargo traffic to the East has quadrupled, he told the journalists after the meeting with the president. In this regard, customs officers have reorganized their work and now ensure prompt clearance of cargo at any checkpoint.

"Business has pivoted to the East both in terms of export and import. We have new sales markets, new producers of equipment, raw materials and components. All necessary goods for our enterprises are imported from friendly countries. Logistics has been rebuilt. Our work has been too," Vladimir Orlovsky noted.

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