Russia's Astrakhan Oblast eager to facilitate Belarus' export to Southeast Asia

Astrakhan Oblast and Belarus have agreed to increase mutual trade, BelTA learned from Governor of Russia's Astrakhan Oblast Igor Babushkin after the governor met with Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 2 December.

The governor said: “We've agreed that the volumes of export and import should invariably grow. We are interested in using the technical capabilities Belarus has such as agricultural machines, lift equipment.”

In turn, Astrakhan Oblast invites Belarus to use capabilities of the international transport corridor North-South. A new container terminal in the sea port of Olya will become part of it as well.

Igor Babushkin said: “We believe that it is a good offer for exporting Belarusian goods to Southeast Asia because it significantly accelerates transit along this international transport corridor.”

In January-September 2021 Belarus' trade with Russia's Astrakhan Oblast totaled $23.1 million, nearly 29% up from January-September 2020. Belarus' merchandise export amounted to $4.7 million. Major exports included chipboards, household appliances, machines and devices for lifting, moving, loading and unloading, wool, and plastic construction parts. It is remarkable that shipments of uncoated paper and pasteboard soared by 11.7 times in comparison with January-September 2020.

Belarus imported from Astrakhan Oblast primarily sulfur, fish, peculiar goods, wool, tomatoes, caviar, melons and watermelons, and various vegetables. Merchandise import amounted to $18.4 million.

A dealership chain of Belarusian mechanical engineering enterprises operates in Astrakhan Oblast and sells products made by MAZ, MTZ, Gomselmash, Bobruiskagromash, and Amkodor. Work is in progress to set up an MTZ trade and maintenance center, which is supposed to be commissioned in 2022.