MINSK, Dec 15 (BelTA/APP): Consumer cooperatives form 5-7% of the country’s stabilization funds for a number of commodities, Aleksei Sirotin, Head of the Procurement and Foreign Economic Activity Department of the Belarusian National Union of Consumer Societies Belkoopsoyuz said in a new episode of BelTA’s Nation Speaks project.
“The consumer cooperative system contributes between 5% and 7% to the national stabilization funds for a range of products. However, the primary role is played by agricultural producers and large farms, which provide a significant portion of the volumes,” Aleksei Sirotin said.
As a major organization, Belkoopsoyuz plans the further development of the stabilization fund system by expanding opportunities for producers and consumers through optimized logistics and storage. The organization operates 60 specialized storage facilities located in all regions of the country, with a one-time storage capacity of over 11,000 tonnes.
“These storage facilities are used for accepting products from agricultural producers, for their retrieval, and for long-term storage. They ensure current sales through 4,000 retail outlets in the consumer cooperation system, as well as mobile stores for remote areas, guaranteeing an uninterrupted supply for the population,” the department head said.