Business news

MINSK, 4 May (BelTA) – Belarus and Georgia intend to set up a joint venture to process poultry meat in Georgia. The news was released by Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Leonid Zayats after negotiations with a Georgian delegation led by Environmental Protection and Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili on 4 May, BelTA has learned. The negotiations took place at premises of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry. Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Rusy took part in the negotiations.

Leonid Zayats said: “In accordance with the instructions the Belarus president gave as he visited Georgia we have to take interaction between the Belarusian and Georgian agribusiness to the next level in addition to stepping up the presence of Georgian agricultural products on the Belarusian food market. We also have to deliver more products that Georgia needs. A Georgian delegation has arrived in Belarus in order to establish interaction in the key areas both countries are interested in, in particular, poultry meat processing in Georgia. A working group is being set up now to work out cooperation options. We expect that a joint venture will be established to process poultry meat using Belarusian technologies. Belarusian specialists will provide guidance and will train Georgian specialists. We intend to offer a joint product, which will sell well on the market of Georgia and other neighboring countries.”

The Georgian delegation had earlier visited OAO Vitebsk Broiler Poultry Factory (Ganna trademark). Members of the delegation were made familiar with the operation of the poultry factory, with the processing system, and with the broad range of products available to consumers.

The possibility of starting growing vegetables in greenhouses in Georgia using Belarusian technologies is under consideration. “We’ve offered our technologies, our capabilities for setting up such enterprises in any part of Georgia. We are ready to assemble these greenhouses, provide support for the technology and train Georgian specialists,” said Leonid Zayats.

Georgian Environmental Protection and Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili added that the possibility of setting up a joint venture to process milk powder in Georgia is under consideration. “It’s a new avenue of cooperation we’ve come up with in the course of this visit. You have food of excellent quality, which enjoys strong demand on the Georgian market. I think Georgia has a great potential in this area if we are to set up a joint venture. We will also study and analyze this matter together with Belarusian colleagues,” he said.

The Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry and the Georgian Environmental Protection and Agriculture Ministry signed a protocol of intent when the Belarus president visited Georgia in March 2018. The document outlines avenues of cooperation and plans to assist with mutual trade development. Selling agricultural products and food is a high-priority cooperation avenue. The Belarusian side is also interested in advancing cooperation in the area of agriculture education, animal husbandry development, and the implementation of joint agricultural projects in Georgia.

In 2017 organizations run by the Agriculture and Food Ministry exported $8.58 million worth of products to Georgia, 2.9 times up from 2016. The deliveries reached $1.95 million in January-March 2018. Belarusian poultry is now sold in Georgia.