Belarus’ Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Natalya Shevtsova discussed the key priorities for the development of Belarusian agriculture in the near future during the Role of EAEU Countries in Shaping International Agro-Production Markets session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, sb.by reports
EEC Minister Gohar Barseghyan, who moderated the session, highlighted that Belarus has achieved a food self-sufficiency rate exceeding 95 percent, the highest within the EAEU. When asked about the promising goals for Belarus’ agricultural sector, Ms. Shevtsova responded, “Despite the turbulence in the external environment, Belarus continues to be a provider of food security for the Eurasian Economic Union member states. The 95 percent self-sufficiency figure is, in fact, the cornerstone of our sovereignty.”
The Deputy Minister pointed out that significant changes in Belarus’ trade routes have made it necessary to tackle the challenges of reorganising food export logistics.
“From our side, the main focus has been, first of all, the reorientation from the West to the East and South, with a significant increase in shipments to China, the Persian Gulf countries, and Southeast Asia,” Ms. Shevtsova said. “We are very grateful to our partners in the Russian Federation for establishing new transhipment points through ports in north-western Russia.”
She further stated that over the next five years, Belarus plans to substitute imports from unfriendly countries by boosting domestic production and sourcing more from friendly states.
