Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 11 April (BelTA) – Belarus and Czechia should help each other find and explore new markets to sell food products. The opinion was voiced at the fourth session of the working group on cooperation in agriculture and food of the Belarusian-Czech commission for economic, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation in the Belarusian town of Gorki on 11 April by Belarusian Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Vasily Sedin, BelTA has learned.

The official said that since starting to working together in 2009 the two sides have achieved serious changes in the development of cooperation, particularly in mutual trade. “Regular meetings held as part of the working group allow us to directly meet, share opinions, experience, clarify information, determine further cooperation avenues,” he remarked.

The trade turnover of the enterprises accountable to the Agriculture and Food Ministry with Czechia demonstrates good dynamics. In 2012 the trade turnover more than tripled in comparison with the previous year to reach $30.7 million partially thanks to a $1.3 million increase in export. The main exports were rough flax and processed flax, industrial fats, and rapeseed oil. In 2012 Belarus imported $28.2 million worth of merchandise from Czechia, including live pigs, profiled metal, industrial furnaces, machines, and industrial equipment.

According to Vasily Sedin, the current trade turnover does not match the existing potential for cooperation development. Both sides have an immense capacity to raise the trade turnover, he believes. Belarus is interested in promoting food products to Czechia and the European Union. In turn, Czech exporters are interested in building up their commodity distribution chain in the Customs Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

“At present Czechia and Belarus can either compete with each other for markets to sell agricultural and food products or help each other find these markets and explore them, can support each other. Our task is to eliminate unnecessary, unsound competition and ensure maximum mutual understanding between ministries and representatives of business circles,” said the Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister.

Deputy Minister for Common Agricultural and Fish Breeding Policy of the European Union, chairwoman of the Czech part of the working group for cooperation in agriculture and food Jaroslava Benes Spalkova remarked that the Czech and Belarusian sides have a strong mutual interest in developing mutually beneficial cooperation. For Belarus Czechia can be the bridge to open the European Union market while Belarus can assist Czechia with promoting merchandise to the Customs Union market. “We are also interested in continuing cooperation for the sake of ensuring the quality and safety of food, certifying Belarusian companies for compliance with EU requirements, cooperation for scientific exchange and for the sake of stepping up investment activities of Czech business in Belarus. More than one successful project involving Czech capital has been implemented in your country and the work should be continued,” she believes.

During negotiations the working group discussed problems in certifying food products, discussed proposals of both sides to advance manufacturing, trade, scientific and technological cooperation. The proposal of the Belarusian side to invest Czech capital and technologies to start the joint production of veterinary medications and food additives in Belarus met interest of the Czech side.

The Czech guests were made familiar with the physical infrastructure of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy, visited the commercial fish farm and the educational one of the academy. On 12 April they intend to get familiar with the implementation of the investment project at Borisov Meat Processing Plant.