Private business companies of Poland are looking forward to the removal of barriers to trade with Belarus.
Ryszard Zarudzki, Poland’s First Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, made a statement to this effect while presenting the program “Flavors of Europe: Quality and Traditions” on November 8.
In his words, Poland has been witnessing a recovery of business relations with Belarus in the sector of agriculture. Zarudzki says he had a meeting with Belarus’ Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Foodstuffs Vladimir Grakun to discuss a strategy for further cooperation and the prospects of lifting barriers to full-fledged economic relations with Poland.
The parties discussed conditions for supplying mineral supplements to cattle fodder with mandatory veterinary certificates; restricted access to Belarus for Polish beef due to the necessity to produce a certificate on the absence of mad cow disease hazards, restrictions of pork supplies, Zarudzki informed.
In his words, Poland is a key supplier of foodstuffs in the European Union, while Belarus is the largest non-EU consumer of Polish foodstuffs. Poland has been supplying foodstuffs to Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy and would be ready to share its best practices and relevant technologies with Belarus, Zarudzki said.
At the same time, Polish businessmen, who want to cooperate with Belarus, find it important to have security guarantees for Polish investments in Belarus, Zarudzki said.
Poland’s Ambassador to Belarus Konrad Pawlik accentuated the point that Poland was happy to seen accelerating turnover of agricultural products and foodstuffs with Belarus. In his words, Poland intends to strengthen cooperation with Belarus in the agricultural sector.
The trade turnover between Belarus and Poland grew by 10.6% YoY in January-August to $1.382 billion. Belarus’ exports to Poland grew by 14% to $584.415 million, imports from Poland – by 8.2% to $796.864 million. Oil products accounted for around 25% of Belarus’ exports to Poland in January-August – 400,600 tons (up 5.6 times YoY) worth $143.727 million (up 3.5 times). Apples and pears accounted for more than 28% of Belarus’ imports from Poland in January-August – 431,000 tons (up 2.3 times) worth $225.561 million (up 2.2 times). (Prime-TASS/Business World Magazine)
