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MINSK, 9 March (BelTA) – Developing cooperation with African countries has not been a random move in the Belarusian diplomatic strategy, Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov said on the air of the Belarus 1 TV channel on 9 March, BelTA has learned.
Maxim Ryzhenkov noted that Africa has always been an attractive region for Belarus. However, it is only recently that contacts with countries on this continent have begun to develop in a substantive and active way.
“This is primarily about mineral resources. The entire group of minerals and metals that are important and necessary today for any industry. It is a huge market of human resources. It is a huge consumer market,” the foreign minister outlined Belarus’ interests. “These are countries with which we share a common perspective on global affairs. And that is a very valuable asset in our international efforts to advance our initiatives and positions. This is by no means a random vector in our diplomacy.”
According to the minister, Belarus does not intend to develop cooperation with African countries on an ad hoc basis. The government has developed a strategy aimed at a systemic approach.
“We have identified points where to concentrate our efforts, countries that can serve as our primary hubs for trade, industrial cooperation, and political engagement. And it is through these nations that we are making our way into Africa,” the foreign minister noted.
The diplomat named the western part of the continent as one of the promising ones. In early March, Maxim Ryzhenkov visited Togo and Ghana. In 2025, he paid a visit to Nigeria.
“We are building relations with African countries on the principles of reciprocity. We go where we are welcome and where we see prospects for our goods,” he stated. “For example, when it comes to these three countries, the most evident area is the mechanization of agriculture, which can quite effectively address the issue of food security in these nations. It is the foundation of sovereignty and independence. Furthermore, we bring our educational technologies there and help them train their own citizens.”
Around 80 students from Ghana are currently studying in Belarus. The minister is confident that this is only the beginning and that in the future numbers will increase.
“At the very least, during our visit, there was immense interest in training specialists in medicine, pharmacology, agriculture, engineering, and various IT fields. We see great potential in this,” Maxim Ryzhenkov said.
Speaking about cooperation with Togo, he drew attention to the fact that a huge volume of cargo passes through the country's port, destined not only for Togo but also for other nations, including those in Central Africa.
“When I reported to the president on our prospects, he specifically instructed us to focus on transport and logistics, which he considers very important for the delivery of our goods not only to Togo but to the entire region, ranging from petroleum products to fertilizers, food products, and machinery kits,” the Belarusian top diplomat said.
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