Business news

MINSK, 26 February (BelTA) – Hungary is interested in buying materials for building a nuclear power plant via OAO Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE), BelTA learned from BUCE Press Secretary Roman Yaniv.

The possibility was discussed on 23 February as a Hungarian delegation visited OAO Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange. The delegation included Trade Counsellor of the Embassy of Hungary in Belarus Bertalan Szentpeteri and representatives of the construction materials company Clean Star Complex Kft.

Clean Star Complex CEO Robert Varga noted he had come to see the commodity exchange upon recommendations of the embassy. He said he would start trading soon on his own or via a floor broker. In particular, the Hungarian businessman expressed interest in buying Belarusian construction materials and timber products using digital trade capabilities of Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange. The possibility of delivering the goods by BUCE-accredited forwarding companies is under consideration. “A nuclear power plant is being built in Hungary as part of the Paks 2 project, this is why the demand for construction materials is high. I hope cooperation with the commodity exchange will help us make more effective purchases,” he stated.

According to BUCE First Deputy Chairman of the Board Anatoly Zaretsky, Hungarian companies have been quite active in exchange trade in the last few years. In 2015 the sum of exchange-facilitated deals of Hungarian companies stood at $316,000. In 2017 the figure went all the way to $6.7 million. The most popular commodities are sawn wood and pulp wood. They accounted for 99% of the trade turnover of Hungarian companies with the commodity exchange. The number of Hungarian companies, which are accredited with the BUCE, has increased from ten in 2015 to 18 in early 2018. The Hungarian embassy in Belarus was credited with the accomplishment.