Photo courtesy of AFP
A Belarusian delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Maksim Ryzhenkov visited Algeria on 22-23 October. The delegation included heads of the Industry Ministry, Healthcare Ministry, Agriculture and Food Ministry, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko had previously noted that contacts with Algeria had received a new impetus. True to its principles, Belarus positions itself as a friend to Africa, aiming to help and teach where there is a need. This prompts an examination of Minsk’s specific interests in North Africa and the reasons for Algeria’s interest in Belarusian technology.
Belarus and Algeria established diplomatic relations thirty years ago, on 24 October 1995. For years, the bilateral trade dynamics were, to put it mildly, modest, rarely surpassing the $10 million mark before 2020 and nearly halting after the pandemic. However, 2024 signaled a dramatic shift, with trade soaring to approximately $50 million, which represents a sixteen-fold increase over 2023. This surge provides a compelling impetus to “take the bull by the horns.” The current flurry of diplomatic activity is, therefore, a concerted effort to deepen relations and identify new synergies.
Algeria presents significant economic potential for Belarusian producers, including as a strategic hub for accessing the broader Mediterranean, Arab, and African markets.
On the upcoming high-level contacts
In Algeria, the Belarusian delegation was received by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. He affirmed the high level of political interaction between the two nations, which he stated is “based on the alignment of positions on key issues of the international order, mutual support, friendship, and the political will to transform these into mutually beneficial economic projects.”
In turn, Maksim Ryzhenkov presented Abdelmadjid Tebboune with an original personal message from Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. The message outlined Belarus’ vision for developing bilateral cooperation, with a focus on economy.
During the meeting, the parties outlined concrete steps to increase trade and promote industrial and agricultural cooperation. They also discussed participation of Belarus in Algerian state programs for food security, transport infrastructure, and public transport renewal.
The parties noted the need to expand the legal framework of bilateral cooperation to cover sectors such as industry, agriculture, justice, education, and transport. Upcoming high-level contacts were also discussed.
On developing a near-term roadmap
Following talks with the president, the Belarusian delegation met with Algeria’s Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs Ahmed Attaf.
The parties confirmed their mutual commitment to the comprehensive strengthening of Belarusian-Algerian cooperation. They also discussed further opportunities to expand trade and economic collaboration, primarily in industry, agriculture, the supply of machinery and food products, interaction in pharmaceutics and information and communication technologies.
An agreement was reached to draft a comprehensive cooperation roadmap for the near-term. The parties also agreed to arrange an additional visit to Algeria of Belarusian government officials and business people in November 2025.
By the way, the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation was held in April 2025. It became a key element in boosting interaction, with both sides underscoring its importance.
During their talks, the ministers of foreign affairs confirmed their commitment to supporting each other within international organizations and to countering attempts to hypocritically impose double standards, primarily in the area of human rights.
Issues of humanitarian and educational cooperation were also addressed, including a draft agreement on education and the implementation of children's and cultural exchange programs. In particular, Belarus confirmed its readiness to host a group of Algerian children for a health improvement program at the National Children's Educational and Health Center Zubryonok, as part of a humanitarian project under the patronage of the president of the Republic of Belarus.
The parties reaffirmed their aspiration for a mutual expansion of diplomatic presence.
On cooperation in pharmaceuticals
During a meeting with Algeria's Minister of Pharmaceutical Industry Wassim Quidri, avenues for expanding cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals were discussed, including the acceleration of registration procedures for Belarusian medicines.
Significant potential was emphasized for establishing joint pharmaceutical production ventures. The readiness of Belarusian companies to transfer technology and participate in the localization of production in Algeria, with a view to accessing African markets, was also noted.
Algeria expressed interest in cooperation regarding the procurement and production of oncology medicines, as well as in purchasing Belarusian pharmaceutical substances.
On industrial cooperation
Folloing the agreements reached at the meetings with the president and the minister of foreign affairs of Algeria, the Belarusian delegation held talks with Algeria’s Industry Minister Yahia Bachir and a group of leaders from Algerian industry.
The parties discussed matters of industrial cooperation, standardization, and certification. Algeria showed interest in high-horsepower Belarusian tractors (from 200 to 300 hp), in creating a joint venture for manufacturing agricultural machinery and equipment, as well as in a joint project to produce MAZ trucks and buses.
Belarus proposed moving towards industrial cooperation and the joint manufacturing of industrial products, with the prospect of subsequent export to African nations.
In November, representatives of Bobruiskagromash, MTZ, MAZ, and Amkodor are expected to visit Algeria. They will work out areas for further cooperation in the supply of Belarusian machinery and the conditions for establishing joint production in Algeria of tractors, municipal equipment, attachments, and service centers.
On food security
In addition to machinery, Algeria also expressed interest in purchasing Belarusian baby food and increasing supplies of powdered milk and halal meat products. These matters were discussed in more detail during a meeting with Yacine El-Mahdi Oualid, Algeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, co‑chair of the Algerian side of the joint intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific, and technical cooperation.
The parties agreed to sign an intergovernmental agreement in veterinary medicine and a memorandum of cooperation in agriculture, and exchanged invitations to attend specialized agricultural and food exhibitions.
During the talks, it was noted that Belarus, as a major producer of agricultural machinery with extensive expertise and technology in the agricultural sector, is willing to contribute to Algeria's food security. In this context, the delegations discussed the need for agricultural mechanization within Algeria’s large-scale project to develop up to 1 million hectares of new land in the desert. Algeria also expressed interest in continuing work on projects to establish grain storage systems.
In addition to the major meetings, the Belarusian delegation also held a series of negotiations and expert consultations on cooperation in the manufacturing industry, agriculture, business contacts, and other areas of trade and economic interaction.
Belarus and Algeria established diplomatic relations thirty years ago, on 24 October 1995. For years, the bilateral trade dynamics were, to put it mildly, modest, rarely surpassing the $10 million mark before 2020 and nearly halting after the pandemic. However, 2024 signaled a dramatic shift, with trade soaring to approximately $50 million, which represents a sixteen-fold increase over 2023. This surge provides a compelling impetus to “take the bull by the horns.” The current flurry of diplomatic activity is, therefore, a concerted effort to deepen relations and identify new synergies.
Algeria presents significant economic potential for Belarusian producers, including as a strategic hub for accessing the broader Mediterranean, Arab, and African markets.
On the upcoming high-level contacts
In Algeria, the Belarusian delegation was received by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. He affirmed the high level of political interaction between the two nations, which he stated is “based on the alignment of positions on key issues of the international order, mutual support, friendship, and the political will to transform these into mutually beneficial economic projects.”
In turn, Maksim Ryzhenkov presented Abdelmadjid Tebboune with an original personal message from Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. The message outlined Belarus’ vision for developing bilateral cooperation, with a focus on economy.
During the meeting, the parties outlined concrete steps to increase trade and promote industrial and agricultural cooperation. They also discussed participation of Belarus in Algerian state programs for food security, transport infrastructure, and public transport renewal.The parties noted the need to expand the legal framework of bilateral cooperation to cover sectors such as industry, agriculture, justice, education, and transport. Upcoming high-level contacts were also discussed.
On developing a near-term roadmap
Following talks with the president, the Belarusian delegation met with Algeria’s Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs Ahmed Attaf.
The parties confirmed their mutual commitment to the comprehensive strengthening of Belarusian-Algerian cooperation. They also discussed further opportunities to expand trade and economic collaboration, primarily in industry, agriculture, the supply of machinery and food products, interaction in pharmaceutics and information and communication technologies.
An agreement was reached to draft a comprehensive cooperation roadmap for the near-term. The parties also agreed to arrange an additional visit to Algeria of Belarusian government officials and business people in November 2025.
By the way, the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation was held in April 2025. It became a key element in boosting interaction, with both sides underscoring its importance.
During their talks, the ministers of foreign affairs confirmed their commitment to supporting each other within international organizations and to countering attempts to hypocritically impose double standards, primarily in the area of human rights.
Issues of humanitarian and educational cooperation were also addressed, including a draft agreement on education and the implementation of children's and cultural exchange programs. In particular, Belarus confirmed its readiness to host a group of Algerian children for a health improvement program at the National Children's Educational and Health Center Zubryonok, as part of a humanitarian project under the patronage of the president of the Republic of Belarus.
The parties reaffirmed their aspiration for a mutual expansion of diplomatic presence.
On cooperation in pharmaceuticals
During a meeting with Algeria's Minister of Pharmaceutical Industry Wassim Quidri, avenues for expanding cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals were discussed, including the acceleration of registration procedures for Belarusian medicines.
Significant potential was emphasized for establishing joint pharmaceutical production ventures. The readiness of Belarusian companies to transfer technology and participate in the localization of production in Algeria, with a view to accessing African markets, was also noted.
Algeria expressed interest in cooperation regarding the procurement and production of oncology medicines, as well as in purchasing Belarusian pharmaceutical substances.
On industrial cooperation
Folloing the agreements reached at the meetings with the president and the minister of foreign affairs of Algeria, the Belarusian delegation held talks with Algeria’s Industry Minister Yahia Bachir and a group of leaders from Algerian industry.
The parties discussed matters of industrial cooperation, standardization, and certification. Algeria showed interest in high-horsepower Belarusian tractors (from 200 to 300 hp), in creating a joint venture for manufacturing agricultural machinery and equipment, as well as in a joint project to produce MAZ trucks and buses.
Belarus proposed moving towards industrial cooperation and the joint manufacturing of industrial products, with the prospect of subsequent export to African nations.
In November, representatives of Bobruiskagromash, MTZ, MAZ, and Amkodor are expected to visit Algeria. They will work out areas for further cooperation in the supply of Belarusian machinery and the conditions for establishing joint production in Algeria of tractors, municipal equipment, attachments, and service centers.
On food security
In addition to machinery, Algeria also expressed interest in purchasing Belarusian baby food and increasing supplies of powdered milk and halal meat products. These matters were discussed in more detail during a meeting with Yacine El-Mahdi Oualid, Algeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, co‑chair of the Algerian side of the joint intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific, and technical cooperation.
The parties agreed to sign an intergovernmental agreement in veterinary medicine and a memorandum of cooperation in agriculture, and exchanged invitations to attend specialized agricultural and food exhibitions.
During the talks, it was noted that Belarus, as a major producer of agricultural machinery with extensive expertise and technology in the agricultural sector, is willing to contribute to Algeria's food security. In this context, the delegations discussed the need for agricultural mechanization within Algeria’s large-scale project to develop up to 1 million hectares of new land in the desert. Algeria also expressed interest in continuing work on projects to establish grain storage systems.
In addition to the major meetings, the Belarusian delegation also held a series of negotiations and expert consultations on cooperation in the manufacturing industry, agriculture, business contacts, and other areas of trade and economic interaction.
Photos courtesy of the MFA/ BelTA archive
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