MINSK, 2 November (BelTA) – Belarus plans to expand the export of dairy products to the U.S. market, Agriculture and Food Minister of Belarus Leonid Zayats told reporters before a meeting with U.S. Agriculture Attache in Moscow Rachel Vandenberg and a delegation of American scientists and businessmen in Minsk on 31 October, BelTA has learned.
"We are mulling over the expansion of deliveries of our processing enterprises, especially the manufacturers of dairy products, to the U.S. market. There are rather big Slavonic communities in the USA, and during the visit in May we met with a number of representatives who want our products to be available in shops. We have already started this work and we want to establish solid cooperation with the representatives of the states of America," the minister noted.
According to Leonid Zayats, at present Belarus' export to the USA makes up about $10 million. "This is a small figure, and we want to make a difference," he stressed.
The delegation from the United States is on a visit to Belarus from 27 October till 4 November. The delegation has comprised representatives of the American Embryo Transfer Association, the National Livestock Producers Association, the American Jersey Cattle Association, the University of Idaho, and the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. The program of the visit includes meetings with representatives of the NASB Scientific and Production Center of Animal Breeding.
BelTA reported earlier that the Belarusian delegation led by the Agriculture and Food Minister visited the USA in May. The program of the visit included meetings with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, secretaries of agriculture of Wisconsin and North Dakota, governors of North Dakota and Nebraska, heads of agricultural universities, American businessmen and traders. The Belarusian delegation also visited a number of farms.