Business news

MINSK, 9 November (BelTA) – In January-September 2015 Belarus’ food export to Russia’s Sakhalin Oblast increased by nearly six times in comparison with the same period of last year to reach virtually $1 million, BelTA learned from Alexei Bogdanov, Head of the Central Office for Foreign Economic Activities of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry, after a Belarusian delegation led by Agriculture and Food Minister Leonid Zayats recently visited Sakhalin Island.

According to the source, a number of topics were discussed during the visit and Belarusian export was one of them. In January-September 2015 Belarus shipped 267 tonnes of dairy products to Sakhalin Island as well as 20 tonnes of butter, 100 tonnes of cheese and cottage cheese. The first container with chicken meat is on the way now. “We have agreed to advance our relations for the sake of larger presence of Belarusian goods in the regional retail chain,” said the official.

Asked what measures have been used to raise export so much, Alexei Bogdanov noted that the results have been achieved by joint efforts. In particular, he pointed out that the Sakhalin-based dairy company OAO South Sakhalin Dairy Factory has been working together with a Belarusian dairy industry enterprise for several years. The sides have agreed to promote Belarusian cheeses via the Sakhalin-based company’s retail chain starting next month. “We have also agreed that we will add products developed by the Dairy Industry Institute to the food lineup available to school students. The sides will arrange negotiations. It is possible that the research results of the Belarusian institute may be utilized to make baby food in Sakhalin, in particular, cottage cheese in jars,” said the Head of the Central Office for Foreign Economic Activities of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry.