Events

16 Dec 2025

Belarus’ MFA: Economic ties strengthen political links with Africa, Middle East

MOSCOW, 16 December (BelTA) - The Belarus-Africa Business Forum for African and Middle Eastern diplomatic missions accredited in Moscow took place at the Business Complex of the Belarusian Embassy in Russia on 16 December. The event brought together ambassadors and senior diplomats from more than 30 countries, BelTA has learned.

Sergei Lukashevich, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, noted that Belarus and African countries share long-standing ties of friendship. “Our military and civilian specialists helped fight colonialism and its consequences in many countries on the continent during the USSR era,” he recalled. “We have not lost these connections. Moreover, as the second wave of decolonization grows and our African friends seek to reduce dependence on Western states and aggressive transnational corporations, our ties are demonstrating renewed relevance.”

The senior diplomat stated that Belarus has traditionally maintained good high-level cooperation with North African countries. “However, the state visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Grigoryevich Lukashenko to Zimbabwe in 2023 became a truly pivotal moment, opening a path for our country to actively cooperate with states south of the Sahara,” he emphasized. “in 2023-2025 high-level meetings and negotiations were held with Algeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, and the Republic of the Congo. The prime minister of Belarus visited Uganda and Egypt, while Minsk hosted visits from the heads of government of Tanzania and Eswatini, as well as delegations from many African countries.”

“This is truly an unprecedented historical moment, a veritable blossoming of relations between Belarus and African states. Our political contacts are actively reinforced by economic ties. Belarus is not merely ready to contribute to meeting the growing demand for food products, industrial and agricultural machinery and equipment, and mineral and chemical goods through simple product deliveries. We are talking about long-term trade and economic cooperation involving investments and a transition to industrial cooperation with the creation of joint production facilities,” Sergei Lukashevich said adding that projects for agricultural mechanization in Zimbabwe and Nigeria have become a hallmark of this partnership.

The first deputy minister of foreign affairs highlighted that Belarus has significant experience in ensuring food security and creating a national healthcare system. Since the Soviet era, knowledge, equipment, and technologies have been preserved and improved in Belarus, and the country is ready to share them.

He also noted that representatives from Gulf countries were invited to the forum for a specific reason. “In recent years, the Gulf monarchies have significantly increased their presence in African countries, implementing investment projects in port and transport-logistics infrastructure aimed at serving not only national but also transit flows of African nations. We observe a sustained investment interest from the Gulf states in the energy sector, including the oil and gas sector and renewable energy, raw material processing, and the agro-industrial complex. The potential for a possible trilateral cooperation format - Belarus, the Gulf monarchies, and African states - focused on the practical implementation of investment projects on the African continent, would allow African partners to receive investments and technologies, provide the Gulf states with a reliable technological and production partner, and grant Belarus stable access to new markets and participation in major regional projects,” Sergei Lukashevich said.

“Africa is the continent on which the future of our civilization depends, a guarantor of global sustainable development. Belarus is undoubtedly interested in establishing a foothold in this promising macro-region with its own distinct approach, as formulated by the Belarusian president: ‘We are not going to Africa to snatch something for momentary gain, as colonizers did in the past. We are not colonizers. We are your friends. We want to cooperate with you on a mutually beneficial basis,’” added the first deputy minister.

The forum was organized by the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly with the National Center for Marketing and Price Study. The event highlighted successful case studies of joint Belarusian-African projects, featured presentations on Belarusian capabilities, and discussed financial support mechanisms.