Enterprises of the Belkoopsoyuz consumers’ cooperatives will supply potatoes, vegetables and furs to Ukraine, BelTA learnt from the foreign economic department of Belkoopsoyuz.

Belkoopsoyuz has recently taken part in an exhibition/fair of Belarusian goods in Kyiv. All the products brought by Belkoopsoyuz to Kyiv were sold out.

The fair in Kyiv was preceded by a visit of a Belarusian governmental delegation led by Belkoopsoyuz head Sergei Sidko to Lviv Oblast. It is usually hard for non-local producers to secure a foothold on the market of Lviv Oblast, as local producers enjoy a strong support. Nevertheless, Belarusian products are rather popular there. During the visit, the parties signed a series of cooperation documents, including agreements on participation of Belarusian and Ukrainian producers in exhibitions and fairs in Belarus and Ukraine.

Representatives of Belarusian enterprises suggested supplying potatoes, vegetables, canned fruit and vegetables, frozen berries and mushrooms, meat and dairy products, furniture, and furs to Lviv Oblast.

Apart from that, there are plans to establish close cooperation between educational institutions of the two countries, in particular, the Grodno and Lviv agricultural universities, the Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives and Lviv Academy of Commerce.

Ukraine is among Belarus’ strategic trading partners. Belarus is in the top ten of Ukraine’s foreign economic partners. In 2009 alone, five joint ventures were set up, five stores opened; national exhibitions and exhibition/fairs are held on a regular basis in the two countries.

Regional cooperation is gaining momentum, too. For example, in 2009 the trade between Belarus and Lviv Oblast exceeded $220 million, which accounts for over 7% of the total trade between the two countries. This year Belarus’ exports to Lviv Oblast have increased by 36.7%. Lviv Oblast is the third largest importer of Belarusian products among 27 Ukrainian regions, following only Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast.
 

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