MINSK, 6 June (BelTA) – Belarus is interested in promoting mutual trade with African countries, Belarusian Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Igor Brylo said ahead of the first Belarusian-African forum “Belarus and Africa – New Frontiers” on 6 June, BelTA has learned.
“Africa is of great interest to Belarus which has proved itself as one of the world's major exporters of dairy and meat products within the last few years. We do understand that we need to diversify our exports. We are interested in boosting trade with African countries in the first place, and also ramping up exports of agricultural equipment to this region, setting up joint ventures, and carrying out some other agricultural projects,” Igor Brylo remarked.
The deputy minister clarified that Belarus shows interest in selling powdered milk, baby food, cheese and also beef and poultry meat to Africa. For instance, Dzerzhinsky agricultural farm has been exporting poultry meat to some African countries. “We are set to talk over the supplies of poultry products with top executives of many companies from African countries,” Igor Brylo noted.
According to him, the African delegation is large and illustrates considerable interest in intensifying cooperation. “Belarus is playing host to some 70 representatives of 10 African countries. This is good as the forum is held for the first time,” Igor Brylo summarized.
The first Belarusian-African forum is held on 6-7 June as part of the Belarusian agro-industrial week Belagro 2017. Partaking in the forum are the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus and the African Export–Import Bank. The event is aimed at promoting cooperation in the agricultural and industrial sectors. The number of participants from the African countries exceeded 70 representatives, including the agriculture ministers of Angola, Namibia and Uganda, the industry minister of Angola, the finance minister of Togo, the leadership of the African Export–Import Bank, other banking structures of Africa, the president of the National African Farmers Union, and representatives of Africa's biggest companies.
