Opinions & Interviews

GOMEL, 25 October (BelTA) – Belarus and Ukraine have created the necessary preconditions to ramp up mutual trade in agricultural products, Ivan Smilgin, Belarus’ Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister, Director of the Department of Veterinary and Food Supervision, said at the opening ceremony of the 13^th session of the Belarus-Ukraine working group on increasing mutual supplies of agricultural products, foodstuffs and other products to the markets of Belarus and Ukraine. The session is taking place on the sidelines of the 1^st Forum of Regions of Belarus and Ukraine, BelTA has learned.

“I am glad to note that in 2017 cooperation with our Ukrainian counterparts in the agricultural industry was on the growth track. This trend remains in place this year,” Ivan Smilgin said.

Ukraine is one of the most important markets for Belarus. It is the third biggest importer of Belarusian agricultural products. Over eight months 2018, Ukraine imported $27.1 million worth of Belarusian farm produce, up 23% over the same period last year. Belarus mostly exports dairy and meat products to Ukraine, and imports protein raw materials (grain, presscake).

Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Viktor Sheremeta emphasized the importance of the groundwork laid in the previous years. The contacts that were forged give reasons to believe that the bilateral cooperation has good prospects. He underlined that Belarus remains a reliable partner for Ukraine.

The agenda of the Belarus-Ukraine working group features issues related to bilateral trade in agricultural products and foodstuffs, veterinary and food supervision, pedigree livestock farming, state-run variety testing, agricultural logistics, agricultural engineering industry, as well as science and technology.