Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food
MINSK, 21 November (BelTA) – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of Belarus, Aleksandr Yakovchits, held a working meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Genet Teshome Jirru, the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food told BelTA.
The meeting focused on prospects for agricultural cooperation. Over the first nine months of the year, bilateral trade increased 2.1-fold compared to the same period last year. Rapeseed oil remains the primary Belarusian export, with shipments growing 2.3-fold, while imports from Ethiopia consist of coffee, flowers, grains, and legumes.
“The parties confirmed their mutual interest in expanding trade and economic ties. A roadmap for developing agricultural cooperation is currently being finalized, which will establish a foundation for the systematic implementation of joint projects,” the press service noted.
Aleksandr Yakovchits stated that Belarusian producers are prepared to enter the Ethiopian market with high-value products, including milk powder, whey, butter, beef, and poultry. For instance, the company Bellakt is ready to supply baby food and specialized nutrition for pregnant and lactating women.
Cooperation in personnel training was also highlighted as a promising area. Belarus proposed leveraging the expertise of its four agricultural universities under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, which offer comprehensive training in all professions essential to a modern agricultural sector.
Another area of discussion involved the supply of Belarusian mineral fertilizers and veterinary drugs, where significant potential for collaboration was identified.
Ethiopian Ambassador Genet Teshome Jirru acknowledged the advanced development of Belarusian agriculture and expressed interest in technology transfer, particularly in agricultural mechanization. “We are currently working on improving our forage supply, as the country has a large cattle herd. Now we need to work on increasing milk and meat productivity,” he said.
The Belarusian side further proposed exploring a turnkey cooperation model, which would include the design and construction of dairy farms, equipment supply, and the transfer of technological solutions.
Belarus will prepare comprehensive proposals for the Ethiopian side across all discussed areas, aimed at building sustainable and mutually beneficial trade relations.
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