Belarus’ Deputy PM: EAEU beneficial to all countries
The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has indeed taken place, and it is beneficial to all countries, especially Belarus, which has always been and is an active promoter of integration ideas in the Eurasian economic space – as noted by Belarus’ Deputy PM Igor Petrishenko
The Deputy PM recalled that last year, the EAEU celebrated its 10th anniversary, and over this time, the aggregate GDP of the EAEU members has grown by 12.5 percent. In 2024, according to preliminary data, the growth was 4.1 percent. Mutual trade within the EAEU has doubled over the ten-year period, while trade with third countries has grown by more than 60 percent.
“These figures show that the union has indeed taken place, and it is beneficial to all countries, especially Belarus, which has always been and is an active promoter of integration ideas in the Eurasian economic space,” Mr. Petrishenko emphasised.
Moreover, the Deputy PM noted that the EAEU industrial potential had grown by 22 percent over a ten-year period.
“In order to support these positive trends, consolidate them and identify growth points for further development of the EAEU, the programme of Belarus’ presidency was prepared and approved by the Head of State,” the official added.
He recalled that Belarus’ President had sent an address to the EAEU heads of state, where he outlined and focused on the main elements of our country’s initiatives and approaches.
According to the Deputy PM, during the previous Belarus’ EAEU presidency, the strategic guidelines for the development of the Eurasian economic integration until 2025 were adopted.
“We need to try to fully implement the strategy that we adopted and that has been in place for five years. The next direction, which the heads of state have also defined, and we will ensure this smooth and seamless transition, is the development of the Eurasian Economic Way Declaration,” the official noted.
Mr. Petrishenko stressed that the main areas of our country’s presidency relate to co-operation, building up technological potential, and microelectronics, “In other words, these are the issues of creating the so-called industrial base in the Eurasian Economic Union.”
Ensuring food security is another priority of Belarus’ EAEU presidency.
“Belarus is 95 percent self-sufficient, Russia – 90 percent, our partners a little less, but we are self-sufficient in food security. And here it is very important for us to develop seed production (i.e., we should ensure the so-called seed sovereignty) and animal genetics,” the Deputy PM said.
According to Mr. Petrishenko, creating a barrier free environment is one of the most important tasks in the EAEU space. It is necessary to create conditions so that new barriers are not introduced, and existing ones are removed.
“Of course, the creation of common energy markets is not without attention,” the Deputy PM said. “This topic was discussed in great detail at the meeting in December 2024 in St. Petersburg. There are also issues of further functioning of the common gas market, issues of the common market of oil and petroleum products. There are certain instructions on which we will intensify our work this year.”
He also noted that the EAEU is actively developing trade relations with third countries, e.g., agreements on free trade zones have been concluded with China, Vietnam, Singapore, Serbia and Iran (a temporary agreement).
Negotiations are underway with Indonesia, the UAE, Tunisia, Morocco, Pakistan, and India. In total, more than 30 countries are keen to conclude free trade agreements with the EAEU member states.
“We must fully utilise the potential of the signed agreements on free trade zones,” Mr. Petrishenko emphasised.
According to the Deputy PM, conscientious compliance with all the norms and all the decisions that are adopted and signed will enable Belarus to successfully implement its presidency programme.
“The relevant state bodies of our country are focused on this in the form of preparing the necessary regulatory legal acts that will allow the EAEU to develop only in a positive way for the benefit of our people and all our friends who live in the EAEU space,” the official summed up.