Business news

4 Nov 2024

Sergeyenko: Belarus shows interest in cooperation with African Union

MINSK, 4 November (BelTA) - Belarus is interested in establishing substantive cooperation with the African Union and regional integration entities, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Igor Sergeyenko said at the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, BelTA has learned.

“We are interested in establishing substantive cooperation with the African Union and regional integration formations, as well as in taking advantage of the continental free trade zone in the implementation of joint projects,” Igor Sergeyenko said. “We can significantly expand the scope of our cooperation in the areas where we have sufficient competencies. These are agriculture and food security, industry, education, science and technology, energy. Belarus is a manufacturer of the entire line of agricultural machinery, which has already proved efficient and is popular among African farmers.”

Our proposals for the supply of machinery and equipment are comprehensive in nature and can form the basis of state projects for mechanization of agriculture in African countries, the speaker stressed. “The advantage of cooperation with Belarus is that we are ready to supply African partners not only with traditional export goods, but also to share our knowledge and technologies. Such a model has already proved its effectiveness. Belarusian exports to Africa have soared almost fourfold this year. In January-August, it amounted to almost $500,000, exceeding the annual figures of previous years. I am sure we can achieve more by participating in pan-African and regional programs.”

“We also need to coordinate our efforts at all levels to reduce vulnerability to all kinds of unfair competition, especially when it comes to food security. After all, Belarus accounts for one-fifth of the world's production of potash fertilizers that are vital for food security. Sanctions pressure on individual countries requires decisive collective action. I share the call of the chairperson of the African Union Commission for the immediate and unconditional lifting of all remaining sanctions imposed on the Republic of Zimbabwe. I support the idea of celebrating the Anti-Sanctions Day initiated by the Southern African Development Community,” Igor Sergeyenko added.

As BelTA reported earlier, a delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus led by Speaker of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeyenko is on a visit to Midrand, South Africa on 4-5 November at the invitation of Chairman of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Fortune Charumbira to take part in the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament. For the first time in history, the Belarusian parliament will be given the opportunity to speak at the official opening ceremony of the PAP session. The National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and the PAP are expected to sign a memorandum of cooperation, according to which the Belarusian parliament will be granted the status of an observer to this organization. The program of the visit will also include meetings of Speaker of the House of Representatives Igor Sergeyenko with the leadership of the PAP, the National Assembly of South Africa, heads of parliamentary delegations of African countries.