Gomel Oblast merchandise export up by 11.2% in 2018

GOMEL(BelTA) – Gomel Oblast merchandise export (including oil and oil products) increased by 11.2% in 2018 over 2017, Igor Aslyuk, head of the economic committee of the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee, said at the meeting of the regional administration, BelTA has learned.

In 2018 local companies exported $4.1 billion worth of products. Igor Aslyuk noted that privately-held companies posted good growth last year, around 18.8%. “Not only the resident companies of the Gomel-Raton Free Economic Zone reported growth but also all other organizations,” he added.

The export of services increased by 9.3% and reached $535 million. The main contributers to the services export were three major exporting companies (Zapad-Transnefteprodukt, Delta Drilling Company, Railport) with the total share at 40% in the region's total services export in 2018.

Gomel Oblast is constantly working to reach new markets. Last year, municipal and private organizations of the region maintained trade operations with 98 countries (91 countries in 2017). last year they branched out into 16 new markets including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana, the Dominican Republic, Jordan, Cameroon, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Morocco, and others.

Gomel Oblast maintained foreign services trade with 104 countries (101 countries in 2017). Gomel Oblast made new trading contacts with nine countries.

Igor Aslyuk noted that the EAEU countries accounted for 76.2% of the region's export in 2018, the EU countries for 12.4%, and other countries for 11.4%.

At the meeting, the Grodno regional authorities outlined major export targets for 2019 and reviewed the export numbers in January. To achieve the targets Igor Aslyuk suggested building up the output, formulating a flexible price policy, and increasing the share of export in the region's foreign trade. Other export promotion measures include advancement to new markets and setting up export-oriented companies and manufactures.