Business news

13 Jan 2023

Belarus’ light industry export to Russia up by 30% in 2022

An archive photo

MINSK, 13 January (BelTA) – Belarus supplied light industry products to 71 regions of the Russian Federation in 2022. The volume of supplies to 65 of them increased over 2021. All in all, the light industry export to the Russian market rose by 30%, Chairwoman of the Belarusian light industry concern Bellegprom Tatiana Lugina said in an interview with the Economy of Belarus magazine, BelTA has learned.

Russia is the main trading partner of Bellegprom. Belarusian companies have been present on the Russian market for a long time and enjoy the well-deserved love of customers, she noted. "Belarusian light industry companies showcase their products at Moscow’s VDNKh, one of the world's largest exhibition venues," Tatiana Lugina informed.

Belarusian Textile Company, which has been set up recently, is already operating in Ivanovo, Novosibirsk and other Russian regions. First batches of Belarusian products have been shipped, work is underway on a showroom.

On 9 December, two large retail facilities selling Belarusian goods were opened in Russia. The first one, in Moscow Oblast, is the result of cooperation between the women's unions of Belarus and Russia. The store, 400 square meters large, sells more than 3,000 items, from textiles to crystal. They feature the best domestic manufacturers, including Orsha Linen Mill, Svitanak, Baranovichi Cotton Production Amalgamation, Dobrush Porcelain Factory, Neman Glass Factory, Barkhim and others. An online store of the same Belarusian goods with delivery throughout Russia will be launched approximately at the end of January. In addition, this year's plans include the opening of at least two similar stores in Moscow. Work is also underway with the federal districts of the Russian Federation.

The second facility, the LEGKO showroom, was opened in Orenburg. This project is the fruit of cooperation between Bellegprom and the Association of Light Industry Enterprises of Orenburg Oblast. LEGKO is a unique multifunctional space that combines a networking area, areas for hoteliers and stylists, local brands, zones for ready-made clothes, household goods and fabrics. The showroom presents the products made by the leading enterprises of Bellegprom: Orsha Linen Mill, Kamvol, Mogotex, Galanteya, Svitanak, BelKredo and Bobruisktrikotazh.

The enterprises of the concern have a network of branded stores in Russia, for example, Conte, Belwest and Milavitsa. Retail facilities from Moscow to Novosibirsk sell products by Orsha Linen Mill, Baranovichi Cotton Production Amalgamation, Lenta, Mogotex and others, Tatiana Lugina added. Svitanak products are sold by a Russian franchisee in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast. In 2022, Belarusian light industry goods went on sale in stores in the Republic of Tyva, Kalmykia, and Altai.

Last year, light industry enterprises increased exports to other friendly countries, to Asian states. Belarus increased exports to Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and India. "The market is really volatile. In previous years we were looking for points of growth in order to increase our presence. In 2022 showed us that we have to make repeated new attempts to interact with the markets of any country," said the head of the Bellegprom concern.

Export has always been a priority for Bellegprom. About 70-75% of the output is exported. Bellegprom’s export is expected to up by 10% in 2022.