OREANDA-NEWS. June 20, 2012. Belarus is not dumping farm products on the Russian market, acting chief of Belarus’ Agriculture Ministry Leonid Marinich said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 22nd international agricultural exhibition Belagro’2012.

“This is a false allegation that Belarus has been selling its farm products on the Russian market at dumping prices. We have met up with Russian agricultural producers and we know what the prices are like in Russia. We say that the prime cost [of farm products] in Russia and Belarus is practically equal,” Marinich said.

The acting minister accused Russia wholesale companies of unfair business practices. “Russian wholesale traders first declare that Belarus will supply cheese at 120 rubles per kilo. Then they go to Russian producers and say they have agreed with Belarus to get cheese supplied at that price. And then they come to Belarus and say they have agreed to Russian producers to get cheese supplied at 120 rubles per kilo. If you agree, we would rather buy from you at that price, otherwise we will not buy at all,” Marinich said.

In that context, agricultural ministries of both states are busy negotiating a compromise “so that producers could work together, rather than compete again each other,” the acting minister said.

The acting minister also commented on the prospects of Danone-Unimilk in Belarus. According to Marinich, the future of Danone-Unimilk in Belarus will depend on the contribution the foreign company is going to make to Belarus’ economy. Belarus expects Danone-Unimilk to be a full-fledged dairy producer rather than just exporter of Belarusian milk.