Business news

MINSK, 24 October (BelTA) – Belarus increased the export of foodstuffs to China five times over eight months of 2018, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to China Kirill Rudy said in an interview with the TASS Russian News Agency, BelTA has learned.

“China is opening up its market; our food supplies to this country skyrocketed five times over eight months this year; exports of milk jumped nine times. In Europe and in the CIS we are the only one who has gone all the way to certify beef and poultry products in China. We have about 50 dairy companies. We fulfilled all quarantine requirements – it is a rather lengthy process, but it proves the good quality of our products. Our foodstuffs are already available on the Chinese market and ordinary Chinese can try our beef,” Kirill Rudy noted.

He emphasized that the structure of Belarus’ export to China is changing: in 2015 potash fertilizers accounted for about 80% of Belarus’ exports; however by now their share has dropped to 57%. “The remaining commodity items are foodstuffs. The share of timber is rising. Belarus has factories that supply materials for IKEA in China,” the ambassador noted.

“Our country is not big and we are building specific relations with China following the path of openness. Maybe, we are sailing against the wind, but we are doing it on our own and in the direction we need. We are opening up; a testimony to that are the visa waiver, trade and the industrial park. This also pertains to humanitarian cooperation and other areas,” the diplomat added.