In January-July this year, the export of the Brest oblast to Latvia made up $4.9 million, up 32% as against the same period of 2008. It was stated during a meeting of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Latvia Alexander Gerasimenko and the leadership of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee in Brest on 5 October.

According to Deputy Chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee Mikhail Yukhimuk, in 2009, the Brest oblast started to supply rape, casein and sugar to Latvia. In January-July, the Brest oblast increased the supplies of ethyl alcohol 3.4 times, matches – 3.2 times. Timber and furniture are among the main export articles.

The Brest oblast traditionally imports sea-fish, flour and medicines from Latvia. At the same time, according to Mikhail Yukhimuk, in January-July, the total imports from Latvia decreased to $1.9 million, or 49% over the same period last year. The mutual trade made up $6.8 million, or 89.7% over the same period last year.

In turn, Alexander Gerasimenko noted that the Brest oblast and Latvia have a big potential to boost the cooperation in supplies of foodstuffs and cargoes transit. The Ambassador proposed companies and business circles of the Brest oblast to hold an exhibition-fair and a business-forum of investment projects of the region in Latvia in December this year.

The Belarusian Ambassador in Latvia is in the Brest oblast on a two-day visit. Alexander Gerasimenko is expected to meet with the administration of the Brest Free Economic Zone, get familiar with the work of a number of the Brest-based companies including Savushkin Product, Gefest-Tekhnika, Belalko, Carpets of Brest and the Brest Electric-Bulb Making Plant.

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