Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 4 June (BelTA) - Belarus will benefit from integration, Nadezhda Kotkovets, Director of Agricultural Policy of the European Economic Commission, said at the opening ceremony of the international expo Belagro 2013, BelTA learned.

Nadezhda Kotkovets noted that the competition is getting tougher in the markets today. Therefore the integration including in agriculture is a necessary stage in the further development of countries.

She said that Belarus has a great potential: "Products of Belarusian enterprises are competitive in terms of quality and price. The only thing we need to do now is to pool together this potential to ensure the quantity.” It is difficult to work on the market alone. We need to concentrate on working together, she said.

Speaking about the potential of Belarusian agro-industrial complex, Minister of Agriculture and Food of Belarus Leonid Zayats noted that domestic producers fully meet the needs of the domestic food market and ramp up their export capabilities. Domestic enterprises have presented the whole range of products, and these are high quality products that are in demand both in the domestic market and far beyond the borders of our country,” the Minister said. He added that Belarusian food products are recognized in the world today, also thanks to the large-scale technological modernization of processing companies.

Leonid Zayats also noted that the interest to the forum grows every year. This time the 23rd Belagro has brought together more than 400 companies from 18 countries. He wished the participants fruitful participation and good results.

The international agricultural expo Belagro-2013 opened in Minsk on 4 June. The exhibition is traditionally held in two venues: the showground at OAO Gastellovskoye, Minsk district, and the Football Indoor Center in Minsk (20/2 Pobeditelei Avenue).

Domestic enterprises are showcasing agricultural products, machinery, equipment, modern energy-saving technologies in all sectors of the agro-production from processing, transportation to storage and sales on the domestic and foreign markets. Participating in the event are all major enterprises of the Belarusian Industry Ministry, including Minsk Tractor Works, Gomselmash, Amkodor, Minsk automobile Plant, Lidselmash.

Among the interesting samples presented at the expo is the harvester with the capacity of 16kg/s. This is its first-time presentation. Visitors of the exhibition will also see grain-carriers, loaders, logging, and other equipment.

OOO Midivisana (Lyubava trademark) has unveiled a shop-on-wheels which has been designed jointly with Evrotorg (Evroopt retail chain). The vehicle has been produced on the order of Evrotorg who seeks to improve the quality of service of customers in remote locations. A distinctive feature of the mobile shop is the continuous maintenance of food storage temperatures (during movement and parking).

Belagro is one of the largest exhibitions in Belarus. In 2012 it brought together more than 400 companies from 19 countries. The expo was attended by representatives of agricultural agencies of more than 30 countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Ukraine, the Russian Federation, all in all, more than 50,000 specialists.

The expo will run until 9 June.