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Belarus’ trade with Russia’s Karelia up by over 60% in January-September

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MINSK, 1 December (BelTA) – The trade between Belarus and Russia’s Republic of Karelia in January-September 2020 skyrocketed by over 60% year-on-year, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Forestry Ministry following a session of the working group on Belarus-Karelia cooperation.

“In January-September 2020, Belarus-Karelia trade totaled $21.8 million, up by 62.7% over the same period of 2019. Belarus’ export soared by 2.4 times to $17.8 million, import shrank by 32.8% to $4 million,” the press service noted.

The trade and economic relations between Belarus and Karelia are developing well, noted Belarus Forestry Minister Vitaly Drozhzha who is responsible for cooperation with Karelia. There is still untapped potential in some sectors, including agriculture and manufacturing. “We are happy that we have started to cooperate not only in trade and economy, but also in investment. The project to set up and upgrade an assembly plant of timber harvesters of Amkodor-Onego in Karelia’s Petrozavodsk is a great example of such cooperation,” he noted.

Vitaly Drozhzha also welcomed concrete results of the working group’s activities. For example, after its representatives visited the pulp and paper production company Kondopoga in Karelia last year, Belarus’ pulp supplies to Karelia surged by 15 times.

At the same time, the parties could explore more areas for cooperation, for example healthcare, tourism, science, and education, Vitaly Drozhzha said.

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