In January-July 2009, the exports of bakery products of the companies subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Belarus made up $1.4 million, up 27% over the same period in 2008, it was learnt from head of the department for bakery and macaroni products of the Agriculture Ministry Marina Kashko.

The products are mainly exported to the neighbouring regions of the Bryansk, Smolensk, Orel, Kostroma, Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow and Leningrad oblasts.

The most popular products include traditional Belarusian unleavened bread with whole grain, dried apricot, prune and walnut.

“Our products are made to classical recipes using long technological processes. They are based on the national traditions of adding molasses, malt, caraway seeds and other natural ingredients to bakery products. This is why our bread has a distinctive aroma and taste and can stay fresh for a long time,” Marina Kashko said.

Belarusian bakeries also export glazed decorated three-layered biscuits, gingerbread with fruit fillings. For instance, Brestkhlebprom Company delivers its three-layered biscuits Idilliya to the USA and Canada, Gomelkhlebprom supplies its frozen bread to Canada. Gomelkhlebprom Company dispatched the first tonne of frozen bread in 2007. Russia imports the products of the bakeries of the Gomel, Vitebsk, Mogilev oblasts and Borisovkhlebprom Company. The export rose due to the advanced technologies applied at the companies, diversified assortment and high quality of products.

Marina Kashko named Kostroma and the Kostroma oblast as promising export destinations. Despite a wide range of goods produced by the Kostroma oblast bakeries, Belarusian glazed gingerbread, gingerbread with fillings and biscuits Idilliya are in great demand there, Marina Kashko said.

www.belta.by