Vitebsk Oblast’s export up 37.6% in January-September

VITEBSK, 16 November (BelTA) – In January-September 2010 the export of companies and organizations of Vitebsk Oblast totaled $424.1 million (up by 37.6% on the same period 2009) BelTA learnt from the Economy Department of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee. The import made up $421.3 million (up 27.5%). The oblast achieved a $2.8 million surplus in foreign trade (excluding the trade in oil and oil products). The residents of the Vitebsk Free Economic Zone accounted for 23% of the whole export volume of the oblast. Companies of the Vitebsk Oblast export processed wood, cables, clothes and hosiery, firefighting equipment lube oil additives. In January-September Vitebsk Oblast traded with 105 countries. The oblast exported goods to 74 countries and imported from 95. The main trade partners of the region were Russia (70.7% of the whole turnover), Kazakhstan (3.5%), China (2.7%), Germany (2.5%), Ukraine (2.1%), the Netherlands (2.6%), Estonia, Latvia (1.5% each), and Poland (1.4%). The companies of the region increased their supplies to Greece (168 times), Ireland (78), Argentina (28), India (25), South Africa (10), Cyprus (9), and Libya, China, and Brazil. The Vitebsk Oblast companies also tapped the market of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, new Zealand, and Saudi Arabia. In January-September the export of services (4.9% of the total volume) totaled $50.5 million (up 12%). The export of transportation services (61.2% of the whole volume) decreased. At the same time, the export of construction services stepped up 3.5 times, tourist services – 1.5 times, education services – 1.4 times and healthcare services – 1.9 times.

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