In 2024, Karelia increased supplies of its own products to foreign markets
Development of new markets and establishment of partnerships with friendly countries are under special control in the Russian Government. In this regard, one of the priority tasks of Karelia was to increase the volume of supplies of the Karelian producers to traditional and new markets.
The main trading partners of Karelia are China, Belarus, India, Egypt, and Turkey. Together, these countries account for more than 70% of the total external trade turnover of the Republic of Karelia with foreign countries. The exports of the Karelian products to Belarus increased by 33%, to Turkey by 54%, and to Egypt by 29%.
An important international event of 2024 was the visit of the Karelian delegation headed by Artur Parfenchikov to the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the business mission of 19 Karelian companies. As part of the events, an agreement was signed on the supply of ground pumps of the Karelian company “PGMK” to the mining enterprises of Uzbekistan, an agreement was reached on the supply of MB Barbell outdoor simulators to Tashkent, and a contract was concluded for the supply of the “RK-Grand” cellulose for the road and construction industries. At the meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture, the parties agreed on the supply of feed additives based on modified shungite. Also, as part of the working visit of the Karelian delegation to Uzbekistan, the parties signed an agreement between conservatories and theaters.
In 2024, the best practices for export development were introduced, the Regional Export Standard 2.0, which is the main indicator of the regional part of the federal project “Systemic Measures for Development of International Cooperation and Export” of the national project “International Cooperation and Export”. The volume of the exports of small and medium-sized businesses supported by the Foundation “Export Support Center of the Republic of Karelia” increased 3 times from 3.6 million US dollars in 2020 to 11.3 million US dollars in 2024, more than 300 small and medium-sized businesses received support measures for entering export market.
A number of significant events were held with the participation of foreign partners, such as the third international forum and exhibition of the natural stone industry “Karelforum-2024”, the visit of the delegation of the representatives of the forestry and agro-industrial complexes and tourism from Turkey, a large-scale economic forum “Karelia 20/24”, the visits of the consuls general of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, and Belarus in St. Petersburg.
- For two years, we have been actively working with the largest enterprises to find new buyers, looking for new logistics solutions. And today, for example, our main trading partner in the forestry complex is China. More than 50% of all exported goods in this industry are sent to this country. Supplies of the Karelian products are also growing to India, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Iran, - noted the Head of the Republic of Karelia Artur Parfenchikov.
