Business news

MINSK, 14 November (BelTA) – Russia’s Sverdlovsk Oblast is interested in cooperation with Belarus in potato farming. The matter was discussed during the negotiations between Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Leonid Zayats and a Sverdlovsk Oblast delegation, BelTA has learned.

Leonid Zayats said Belarus is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation with Sverdlovsk Oblast in agribusiness. “Today we are ready to discuss specific avenues of further interaction. Today we intend to take into account the trade and economic interests of both sides so that our cooperation brings mutual benefits,” he underlined.

The Sverdlovsk Oblast delegation commended Belarus’ high-level dairy farming and showed interest in stepping up cooperation in this field. They noted that the possibility of growing Belarusian potato varieties in Sverdlovsk Oblast is under consideration.

In January-September 2017, the trade between the enterprises affiliated with the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry and Sverdlovsk Oblast reached $15.06 million; the Belarusian companies sold $14.54 million worth of products to the region. The main exports are cheeses, quark, frozen beef, and malt extract. In 2017, the exports of whey powder ballooned 14 times to reach $206,000; the exports of malt extract went up by 70% ($644,000). The Belarusian companies have also started supplying sausages, beef fat, flour, and bread to Sverdlovsk Oblast.