Lukashenko: Belarus ready to strictly adhere to implementation of the plan for co-operation with Zimbabwe
Belarus is ready to strictly adhere to the implementation of the plan for co-operation with Zimbabwe – as stated by the President of Belarus during his today’s meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe, Frederick Shava
Aleksandr Lukashenko started the meeting with what the whole country was discussing that morning: weather conditions, “You have arrived in Belarus in good time, and you can feel what winter is like in our country. Actually, it is too warm today, but the snow is real.”
Turning to the business part of the conversation, the President noted, “It is very good that we are keeping our agreements, and you are in Belarus today on a business visit. I would like to confirm once again my readiness for close co-operation with your country. We have outlined a special plan for our work with Zimbabwe, and we are strictly ready to adhere to the implementation of these planned tasks.”
At the same time, as the Belarusian leader noted, some new directions of the bilateral co-operation have been outlined, primarily in the humanitarian sphere – ‘not to mention education’, “We agreed with Mr. Mnangagwa [President of Zimbabwe] to pay great attention to liaisons in the field of motherhood, childhood, healthcare, and baby food. I hope the President's wife will come to our country in the near future; on the part of Zimbabwe, she has been instructed to deal with these issues. You should know that we will do our best to help and support our friends in Zimbabwe. You can rely on us in this regard.”
Speaking about trade and economic co-operation, Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the avenues are known already, “We are ready not just to exchange goods with you: we are ready to establish joint ventures in your country and also accept your investments in Belarus – if you are interested in. [We are ready] to build co-operation in the economic sphere on a completely civilised, high basis. All the agreements that we reached during my visit to your country will be strictly observed. We have actually created a commission at the interstate level. From our side, Deputy Prime Minister Parkhomchik controls the situation in the sphere of our relations with Zimbabwe. My special envoy Sheiman often visits your country, and he will stay there as much as necessary. If any urgent questions arise, I will inform both you and my colleague, the President of Zimbabwe, through him.”
The President of Belarus paid a state visit to Zimbabwe on January 30th-February 1st, 2023. Following his visit, the Government of Belarus approved a roadmap for the implementation of the achieved agreements. The document includes 65 events in various fields: political and diplomatic, trade and economic, agricultural, military-technical, healthcare and medical science, investments, energy, supplies and maintenance of equipment.
To date, the Belarusian parts of the joint Belarusian-Zimbabwean working groups on military-technical co-operation and agriculture have been formed. Assistance has been provided in the opening of the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Belarus, and domestic procedures are being carried out for the entry into force of agreements on the establishment of a joint permanent commission (chaired by foreign ministers), on the promotion and protection of investments, and on the avoidance of double taxation.
The development of plans for intersectoral co-operation has begun, and Zimbabwean delegations are expected to participate in the BELAGRO and MILEX exhibitions. The participation of Belarusian enterprises in the Zimbabwean International Trade Fair in Bulawayo in April 2023 is being prepared.
The contracts signed during the state visit are being implemented; they envisage the construction and modernisation of grain storage complexes, as well as supplies of MTZ and Gomselmash equipment. Approval of the list of machines for inclusion in the contract for the supply of equipment for the forestry industry is underway, and the implementation of the contract for the supply of Pozhsnab machinery continues. By April 15th, it is planned to produce and accept for shipment the second batch of thirty-five machines.
In addition, work is underway to sell products of BelAZ, Lidselmash, Minsk Motor Plant and Bobruiskagromash to the Zimbabwean market.
Last year, the Belarus-Zimbabwe trade turnover amounted to $39.3m (156.9 percent against the 2021 level). Belarus primarily exported tractors and semi-trailer trucks, machines and mechanisms for harvesting and threshing crops, parts and accessories for cars and tractors, engines and power plants to Zimbabwe, importing specific goods – such as citrus fruits, figs, dates, pineapples, avocado, guava, and mango.
