Business news

MINSK, 7 June (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia are not going to abandon the practice of indicative planning in food trade. The statement was made by Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Leonid Zayats before a panel session of the third Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia on 7 June, BelTA has learned.

“We like fulfilling our food delivery plans. This year Belarus is supposed to supply 390,000 tonnes of meat and meat products and 4 million tonnes of milk and dairy products. We deliver as much goods to the Russian market as we agreed. But if Russia requests more in the future, we will be able to honor that request,” stressed Leonid Zayats.

Russian Deputy Agriculture Minister Sergei Levin remarked that the practice of indicative planning has proven its usefulness in the last few years. “It is a reliable instrument for planning production figures in our countries for the sake of balancing the market and maintaining stability. Taking into account positive experience, we are going to continue using this instrument. I hope our trade will grow steadily and progressively,” he said.

Sergei Levin pointed out that the forum of regions is a remarkable platform for regions of Russia and Belarus to talk to each other. “There is virtually no region in the Russian Federation that has no direct and long-term relations with regions of Belarus. The forum is another reason to meet up, compare notes and sketch out future cooperation plans,” he stated.

The third Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia is scheduled for 7-8 June. The forum is supposed to broaden regional interaction and foster the establishment of direct contacts between enterprises and organizations in social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, and humanitarian spheres. The international expo Belagro 2016 is opening today, too. This year it will take place in the Minsk One airport, with over 500 companies from 20 countries putting their products on display.

A plenary session will be held on the second day of the forum to discuss accomplishments, problems, solutions, and prospects in implementing the coordinated social and economic policy in the Union State of Belarus and Russia. Representatives of about 40 Russian regions, including 13 governors, four vice governors, three heads of legislative assemblies, and three prime ministers have arrived in Belarus to take part in the forum.