Business news

BREST, 28 November (BelTA) – Chinese companies are interested in opening a logistics hub in Brest, BelTA learned from Mikhail Batsenko, Chairman of the Economy Committee of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee.

Two Chinese companies would like to open representative offices near the Belarusian-Polish border. ZIH Company transports its containers along the Silk Road from China to Europe. These containers are transshipped in the Polish town of Malaszewicze for now. The Chinese company is interested in working with Belarusian logistics companies. The second company Wuhan Asia-Europe Logistics is located in Anhui Province. A delegation of Anhui Province is expected to visit Brest Oblast on 5 December. Cooperation will be high on the agenda of the visit.

According to the source, negotiations are underway. Various cooperation options have been suggested to the Chinese partners. For instance, they can place a logistics hub at premises of the Belarusian logistics companies SOOO Brestvneshtrans or ZAO Belterminal.

Brest Oblast is interested in stepping up relations with regions of China. Plans have been made to sign an agreement on cooperation with Anhui Province. When the Anhui Province delegation visits Brest in December, a presentation of potential cooperation avenues will be arranged. The guests will also visit the relevant enterprises.

In January-September 2016 China-Brest Oblast trade totaled $73.8 million. Brest Oblast exported over $4.4 million worth of merchandise to China. This year’s export is expected to exceed last year’s by 15%. “Our export is now more technological. For instance, the company Karbon-Mekhanika now exports vacuum furnaces to China. We also sell foods, including beverages made by the brewery Brestskoye Pivo and the Belalco distillery. We offer textiles and furniture. There are many potential cooperation areas but it is difficult to penetrate the Chinese market. It is necessary to do one’s best to secure a foothold on this market,” concluded the representative of the Brest Oblast administration.