The key point is the speed of decision making

Creation of port capacities for cargo transshipment and the draft Decree On the Sale of Potash Fertilisers were discussed at a meeting with the President of Belarus

belta

As noted, even in the face of sanctions, the Belarusian economy continues not only to work, but also to produce results. The latest statistics: gross domestic product increased by 2 percent in the first half of the year. Along with it, the monetary incomes of the population also increased. At the same time, inflation rates are slowing down: in May-June, its historical minimum was recorded on an annualised basis. Now one of the main tasks is to increase the supply of Belarusian goods to foreign markets.

“Areas of work have been identified, necessary decisions have been made. It’s time to synchronise the clocks and, if necessary, correct and agree on our further actions and plans,” said the President when opening the meeting. “War is war, but everything is in the economy, as I warned you many times. The situation and the foreign policy conjuncture are developing extremely dynamically today. But, we must note that the Belarusian economy continues to work and find new opportunities in these difficult conditions. We must promptly respond to all challenges and guarantee the delivery of export cargo to buyers. The key point is the speed of decision making.”

In this regard, the Head of State outlined a number of important issues. One of them is at what stage is the creation of own capacities for maritime transportation. “It is clear that we left (not of our own accord) traditional ports and are working on transshipment of our cargo, which is about 20 million tonnes, in all ports of the Russian Federation,” noted the President. “Are there concrete results in this direction? What ports are involved in the transportation of potash fertilisers and oil products, what are the problems in this regard? Do we have an understanding of how much potassium we can transship through the ports of the Russian Federation on acceptable terms?”
In addition, there are alternative options for co-operation in the north-western region of Russia.
“This should be the main issue,” 
Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out. According to him, now Belarus has two possible options, each with its own advantages and disadvantages: Murmansk and Primorsk.
“It is necessary to finally decide what we need — to build a terminal, port or modernise any existing facility, and immediately begin work,” emphasised the Head of State. “As far as I know, we are building and modernising somewhere near Leningrad. Near Murmansk we are still hesitating.”
The meeting also discussed the draft Decree on the Sale of Certain Types of Goods for Export.
First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov informed that this year Belarus transported 4 times more cargo through Russian ports than in the same period last year.
“While for 6 months of last year we transported 1.5 million tonnes of Belarusian cargo through Russian seaports, this year the volume has already amounted to almost 6 million tonnes. Growth is 400 percent. Almost the entire volume — 97 percent — is chemical mineral fertilisers, oil and oil products,” said the First Deputy Prime Minister.
Nikolai Snopkov noted that the results of the work started in April last year to organise the transshipment of Belarusian potassium through the seaports of the north-west and south of Russia make it possible today to have port capacities for transshipment of about 1 million tonnes of products per month, or 12 million tonnes per year.
Nikolai Snopkov said that the Belarusian side managed to achieve cost-effective transshipment conditions in the terminals of the ports of St. Petersburg. In the first half of this year, 2.7 million tonnes of potash fertilisers were shipped through these ports.
“The main ports are Bronka, the Baltic Shipbuilding Plant, the Sea Fishing Port, Keystone Logistics. The base one, in accordance with the agreements between the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, is Bronka,” said the First Deputy Prime Minister.

Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by