Opinions & Interviews

Opinion: Belarus has every opportunity to increase food exports

Aleksei Avdonin. An archive photo

MINSK, 9 April (BelTA) - Belarus has every opportunity to increase food exports, Aleksei Avdonin, an analyst with the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research (BISR), said in an interview with the First National Channel of the Belarusian Radio, BelTA has learned.

In January-February of this year the Belarusian agricultural industry earned an additional $900 million as the export wen up by 10%. According to the Agriculture and Food Ministry, export to Russia increased by 5.5%, to the EU – by half and to Asia and Oceania - almost doubled. “With global markets in decline and with the coronavirus pandemic raging, many wonder what will happen next. The closure of enterprises in many countries and the delay in spring planting campaigns may lead to a shortage of staple foodstuffs in the autumn,” the expert believes.

Aleksei Avdonin recalled that for the last 20 years Belarus has been working hard to ensure food security. A new strategy, a new doctrine of national food security until 2030 was launched in 2017. Under the two doctrines (the first one has been implemented since 2004) enough budget funds and investments have been invested so that Belarus could completely satisfy its food needs. “Given the unstable conditions, anticipating food shortages and higher prices this is probably the most important achievement of Belarus in the past period. Many countries that have not invested in their food security will of course be forced to import a huge number of products and spend large amounts of funds, reserves on imports. Under this doctrine, Belarus’ food imports shall not exceed 15%. Some share of products is exported. Therefore, I would like to stress once again that we have ensured the national food security,” he said.

As for export, in his opinion, it is important for Belarus not to lose market share in the traditional export markets and to explore new markets. Now, during the period of actual redistribution of supplies and companies, it is important for the major players to hold their share and not to miss the opportunity to increase exports. All difficult periods associated with coronavirus or expected economic downturn will pass, but the shares in foreign markets will remain. Now it is a good time to tap into new markets, despite the fact that everybody expects a recession in the economy and consumption. This is not entirely true: food consumption, on the contrary, will rise, and food prices will increase,” Aleksei Avdonin said.

print version

make home page

add to bookmarks