Posted:
13.02.2025 10:56:24
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Around 40 exhibitions: where and when Belarusian products will be showcased for foreign buyers
The Council of Ministers has approved the plan for national exhibitions (expositions) of Belarus in foreign countries for this year. Among the events are the National Exposition at the 8th China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November and the National Exhibition Made in Belarus in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea in November-December. The exhibition operator is the Belinterexpo unitary enterprise of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BelCCI). We have asked Natalia Kurash, Director of BelCCI’s Belinterexpo, where else Belarusian products will be presented this year and what economic benefits participation in exhibitions brings to the enterprise.
Belarus. The Taste of Nature exposition in Cairo, Egypt Foundation for tomorrow
— How successful was 2024 for Belinterexpo?
Natalia Kurash
— Overall, the year was successful for us. The main result is that the tasks set before us were fully accomplished. At the same time, we took on several new projects and achieved a systematic approach. New countries have emerged where we had never been before, such as Saudi Arabia and Tanzania. We have also strengthened our position in Belarus as builders of stands and developers of exhibition and congress concepts. Thus, we participated as builders of some stands at the My Belarus exhibition, which was held on a grand scale in Minsk.
Just recently, we summarised our work over the past four years. Belinterexpo conducted 101 exhibitions abroad in 25 countries during this time. While we consistently held 22 events in about 10–15 countries, in 2023 we reached 28 exhibitions. In 2024, we already organised 29 exhibitions in 18 countries. Most importantly, 27 of these exhibitions were conducted without budgetary support.— As for this year, where will Belarusian products be showcased?
Made in Belarus exposition presented at Russian Healthcare Week international scientific and practical forum in Moscow
Japan is an interesting region. In March, it will host a food industry exhibition, FOODEX Japan. We will be participating in this expo event for the first time. The organisers have confirmed our space. Belarusian producers are showing interest in this event.
Additionally, this year we will organise the participation of Belarusian enterprises in the food industry and agricultural machinery exhibition in Nigeria. It is a large country with a significant population, and the exhibition covers multiple sectors. Of course, we are also working on opportunities in Zimbabwe, where we are a welcome guest.
Furthermore, we are actively exploring regions in China. In April, we plan to participate in a multi-sector exhibition in Haikou.
For the first time, we want to try participating in the annual investment forum, AIM Congress, in the UAE. The event is similar to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has quotas for participation in the plenary session, and we are considering the option of participating in the exhibition section. Today, this congress is positioned as one of the leading events. Therefore, we are currently working on a concept to offer an optimal solution for enterprises, for ourselves, and for the organisers.
Regarding the new regions, we have an exhibition planned for June in the Philippines. New markets are interesting because we are competitive in terms of both price and product quality in many of them. Moreover, it is always important to remember that Belarusian food products are well-promoted and consistently in demand in countries with large populations. Therefore, we plan to present ourselves in the markets of Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. We are also working on organising a national exhibition of the Republic of Belarus in Equatorial Guinea.
Undoubtedly, we will participate in our traditional events as well. This includes the import exhibition in Shanghai, which the Republic of Belarus attends every year.
Belgospishcheprom presented at AGRO FOOD DRINK TECH EXPO 2024 in Tbilisi, GeorgiaMutual interest
— What criteria do you use to select the regions where exhibitions will take place?
Belarus. The Taste of Nature exposition at the main food exhibition FoodExpo Qazaqstan 2024 in Almaty
— How effective is the exhibition tool for enterprises exploring new markets? Is there any feedback from them?
— At an exhibition, you can always see whether your product will succeed and if it is competitive in terms of price. You can then assess on-site how to proceed and whether it is worth pursuing this direction at all. It is also important to remember that numerous negotiations take place at exhibitions. Most contracts are concluded there, and partnerships are established.
As for the feedback, it is undoubtedly present. According to the information we received from the companies that participated in our exhibitions last year, the total value of contracts signed reached one billion Belarusian roubles. This indicates that Belarusian products are in demand worldwide. At international exhibitions where our country participates, many visitors specifically come to our stands. After all, the Made in Belarus brand is a guarantee of high quality at an affordable price.
Image-building project
— This year, INNOPROM. Belarus will take place in the new exhibition centre in Minsk. How is the preparation for this important event progressing, and what will the enterprises showcase to visitors?— This will be a guest exhibition for Belarus. The main INNOPROM exhibition is held annually in Yekaterinburg, while guest exhibitions have previously taken place in Tashkent and Astana. Now it is Minsk’s turn. We held our first meeting with the organisers at the Minsk International Exhibition Centre. Our partners have extensive experience participating in various exhibitions in Russia, the CIS countries, and beyond. They gave a very high assessment of this venue, which is suitable for hosting international exhibitions and high-level forums.
The dates are currently being determined, and after that — in liaison with the exhibition organisers — it is planned to conduct large presentations in several countries, so-called roadshows, to attract delegations from many countries around the world.
At the Minsk International Exhibition Centre, where this exhibition will take place, there is an opportunity to showcase products related to the INNOPROM themes on a much larger scale. The parties have preliminarily agreed that the guest INNOPROM in Belarus will take place in autumn. The organiser is Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade. Therefore, with their resources, we hope to invite many countries to our republic.
Regarding the exposition, a broad representation of Belarusian industry is being developed. In Minsk, with our own exhibition complex, we need to showcase everything that Belarus takes pride in.
Interviewed by Vladislav Sychevich
