Belarus planning to boost food exports 4.2% in 2020
MINSK. Feb 5 (Interfax) - Belarus is planning to export at least $5.7 billion in agricultural and food products in 2020, head of the Central Office for Foreign Economic Activities of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry Alexei Bogdanov said at a press conference in Minsk.
"Our plans for 2020 have already been approved by the government and delivered to all interested parties. There are plans to boost agricultural and food exports 4.2% compared with 2019. The amount we're planning to achieve should exceed $5.7 billion," Bogdanov said.
Dairy will probably be the main growth driver, he said. "We see that animals' productivity will grow thanks to the enormous work that's been done to improve the conditions in which they're kept. Increased milk production, together with the high prices that are expected to continue in 2020 will give us export growth," Bogdanov said.
The ministry also has "high hopes" for plant production, and there will be "a little growth in the meat segment," he said.
In 2019, Belarus exported $5.5 billion in agricultural and food products, Bogdanov said (+4.5% over 2018). "The growth in exports was due to the increase in both exports in natural terms and export prices," he said.
He said EAEU countries accounted for 84.7% of all deliveries, the EU for 4.4%, and other countries for 10.9%. Last year, exports went to 104 countries.