Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 10 July (BelTA) – Belarusian producers should work harder to overcome barriers in trade with the European Union, BelTA learned from Permanent Representative of the Republic of Belarus to the European Union Alexander Mikhnevich during the seminar held on 10 July to discuss food export to the European Union.

Alexander Mikhnevich said: “Our goal is to evenly distribute export between the European Union, the Eurasian Economic Union, and third countries. We’ve been able to secure certain figures in export to the European Union thanks to raw materials. It is necessary to export more products with a higher degree of processing. The European Union has put up barriers to protect its producers. Nevertheless, many countries have learned how to overcome these barriers. We should, too. Everything can be resolved but persistence is needed. We need to know how to accomplish that. We are going to discuss these matters during today’s seminar.”

According to the source, a European commissioner in charge of overseeing phytosanitary matters is expected to visit Belarus in late August. “It means they now look at us as a possible exporter,” noted Alexander Mikhnevich.

Valery Sadokho, Director of the National Marketing Center of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that Belarusian companies have the potential for expanding presence on European markets. “In particular, there is potential for selling chemical fibers, furniture, some kinds of vehicles, machines, and equipment. There are Belarusian trade missions in nearly all the European Union countries. They have been instructed to assist with the promotion of Belarusian products onto this market as much as possible,” he added.

Upon the initiative of the Mission of the Republic of Belarus to the European Union the National Marketing Center of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized a seminar to discuss food export to the European Union. The seminar is supposed to unearth the main problems standing in the way of larger Belarusian food export to the European Union and sketch out ways to resolve them.