Trade between Belarus and Russia expected to grow to record $45 bln in 2022 - PM Golovchenko

MINSK. Oct 3 (Interfax) - The trade turnover between Belarus and Russia will grow to a record $45 billion in 2022, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said on Friday.

"For this year the trade turnover with Russia will be a record, about $45 billion," Golovchenko said in a video released by his press service.

The trade turnover between the two countries grew by 35% to $40 billion in 2021. The trade turnover this year could therefore increase by another 12.5%.

Golovchenko said niches are being vacated on the Russian market due to the departure of western companies. "We must fill these niches, we must go in there with the maximum amount of goods. This is why in July we reached the maximum amount of shipments of goods to the Russian market in recent years, decades - about $2 billion per month. We will further increase this amount," he said.

"Right now our key objective is to take maximum advantage of the opportunities that are being presented to us due to the departure of unfriendly manufacturers from a market that is close to us," Golovchenko said.

Belarusian exports to Russia will increase by 30% this year instead of the previously planned 20%, he said.

He also said that the Belarusian government is planning on "strong growth of exports to China" in 2023.