An international logistics company from China is looking into opportunities for cooperation with Vitebsk Oblast in the area of trade, BelTA has learned.

Top executives of the Chinese company have arrived in Vitebsk Oblast in order to take a look at the local product range. During the official meeting with representatives of the Vitebsk Oblast administration the guests expressed interest in agricultural products. They said they had heard a lot about the high quality of organic Belarusian products.

Oleg Matskevich, First Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee, pointed out that Belarusian-Chinese cooperation in the region is implemented in practice. A unit has been installed at the Lukoml state district power plant. The Vitebsk hydropower plant has been built. Orsha Linen Mill has been retooled. An agreement has been signed on building dairy farms using foreign direct investments. Negotiations are in progress on building animal farms using preferential-rate Chinese loans. The representative of the Vitebsk Oblast administration assured that cooperation with Chinese partners in the sphere of logistics can become another successful and mutually beneficial project.

Oleg Matskevich told BelTA that transportation accounts for 30-40% of the cost of export to China. "We are on the lookout for logistics companies in order to make the transportation of our products cheaper and more convenient," he added.

According to the official, the Chinese side is interested in deliveries of milk powder and ultra-heat-treated milk. The Chinese side would like to buy local confectionery from Vitba Company, fiber optic cables, and distilled beverages.

Oleg Matskevich said that the Vitebsk Oblast industrial group Meat and Dairy Products had acquired the relevant certificates for virtually the entire product range and can now ship its products to China. "It is now necessary to decide on the choice of exports and logistics — whether the containers should be delivered by rail or by sea. This is why we are looking for logisticians. Their assistance would come in handy," he explained.

While in Vitebsk Oblast the Chinese delegation is expected to visit a number of food companies in Vitebsk and Orsha Linen Mill.

BELARUSIAN NEWS