Business news

MINSK, 28 April (BelTA) – Chelyabinsk Oblast offers Belarus to set up a joint company in dairy farming, Minister of Agriculture of Chelyabinsk Oblast Sergei Sushkov said as he met with Agriculture and Food Minister of Belarus Leonid Zayats on 28 April, BelTA has learned.

“We have problems with producing enough raw milk. Therefore, one of the first areas in our joint work will be the creation of a joint company in dairy farming,” Sergei Sushkov said.

The Minister of Agriculture of Chelyabinsk Oblast stressed that the annual trade in the agricultural produce between Chelyabinsk Oblast and Belarus is about $10 million. “It is mainly agricultural equipment and milk powder. Our priorities in cooperation with Belarus have recently changed. We would like to get your products of primary seed breeding, including in potato and vegetable growing, share the growing under cover technologies, and set up joint companies in Chelyabinsk Oblast,” he said.

According to Sergei Sushkov, the Russian region is ready to offer transport and logistics chains for further advancement of Belarusian products. “We can help you in advancing your products to the Far East, Northern Kazakhstan which we have an open border with. Apart from that, we have set up a transport and logistics center with China and practically restored the Great Silk Way. Belarus is interested in cooperation with China. You, however, supply your products through a long chain which is much expensive and makes your products less competitive on the Chinese market. We offer a short logistics way,” he explained.

According to Alexei Bogdanov, head of the main department for foreign economic activity of the Agriculture and Food Ministry, Belarus is aimed at establishing stable supplies of its high-quality meat and dairy products to Chelyabinsk Oblast. “We would like to develop the deliveries of our seed grain: potato, apples, other vegetables. We are also ready to consider proposals of setting up joint companies,” he stressed.

The parties agreed that in June 2016 Belarus will send its experts to Chelyabinsk Oblast to discuss joint projects.

Over the two months of 2015 the trade between Belarus’ Agriculture and Food Ministry and Chelyabinsk Oblast totaled $449,600.