22 Aug 2022 16:55

West will buy Belarus fertilizers - Lukashenko

MINSK. Aug 22 (Interfax) - Western countries will buy Belarusian mineral fertilizers, given their geographical proximity, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.

"What we produce is needed everywhere: both food products and mineral fertilizers, especially today. We need to do this to prevent hunger. The West will buy these fertilizers. It is close to us. There is no need to give up on these markets," the state-owned BelTA news agency quoted him as saying.

Lukashenko on Monday gave instructions to the new deputy prime minister responsible for fuel and energy, Pyotr Parkhomchik, who previously headed the Industry Ministry.

"I have already said that there is no need to discard any markets," the Belarusian leader continued. "If we are able to work in the West, we will work in the West, in the South, North, East, wherever our products are needed. Do we have a gigantic economy, like Russia? No, we don't. Our economy is compact," BeltA quoted Lukashenko as saying.

He said the key task was to ensure does not fall this year. "In the economy our task is not to fall below last year. Industry should play the main role here," he said.

The European Union has imposed sectoral sanctions that prohibit the supply of Belarusian mineral fertilizers to the EU, and personal sanctions against the producer of potassium chloride - Belaruskali and its trader - Belarusian Potash Company.