Spain's Catalonia would like to set up joint enterprises with Minsk Oblast, Ramon Sentmarti, the managing director of the Prodeca agency that promotes Catalonia's agricultural products, said as he met with a Minsk Oblast delegation in the Minsk regional administration on 27 February, BelTA learned from the press service.

Ramon Sentmarti suggested setting up joint ventures in Minsk Oblast. He said Catalonia is the most well-developed agricultural region in Europe and Belarus can explore the possibilities of exporting its products.

First Deputy Director General of Minoblmyasomolprom meat and diary company Sergei Nekrashevich supported the idea. “Spain is known for good ham. Why not to produce this delicacy for export in Belarus. We are ready to receive your businessmen so that they can see how to implement their ideas. In general, more than 80% of our products are exported, and we tap into new markets, such as Japan and China. We also bottle mineral water and alcoholic beverages. We are ready to consider options for cooperation in this sector as well,” he said.

Minks Oblast Deputy Governor Nikolai Rogashchuk was, in turn, interested in ways to export Belarusian products to Spain. “Minsk Oblast is home to the companies producing juice and processing fruit. The meat and dairy industry is well-developed in the region. We pay much attention to the manufacture of eco-friendly goods. These are the points of contact that can give impetus to our cooperation,” he noted.

Nikolai Rogashchuk invited foreign partners to exchange the experience in agriculture.

In 2019 the trade between Belarus' Minsk Oblast and Spain reached $65.4 million. Major exports to Spain were leather, timber, mineral water and imports were mainly equipment for vehicle and tractors and fruit.