Belarus, Ethiopia reach set of agreements

At the meeting with Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Sport Shewit Shanka, the parties agreed to exchange best practices in museums and develop humanitarian cooperation. Maksim Ryzhenkov invited Ethiopian representatives to perform at the international festival Slavianski Bazaar Vitebsk. The Ethiopian minister received an invitation from his Belarusian counterpart to visit Belarus. An agreement was also reached to hold the Days of Culture, Education and Sports of Belarus in Ethiopia.

Shevit Shanka supported Belarus's proposals, noting the interest in promoting cultural dialogue between the two states.

During the talks with Ethiopian Minister of Innovation and Technology Belete Molla, the Belarusian delegation offered its Ethiopian counterparts to study the Belarusian experience in setting up the High Technology Park, including legal and organizational aspects. “During the talks, special attention was paid to cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy, research programs and business incubators. Minister Belete Molla supported the idea of adapting Belarusian technologies to the needs of Ethiopia and made a proposal to coordinate actions on international platforms to ensure access to the sea for landlocked states,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Agreements were reached with Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Investment Holding Brook Taye to modernize the production base of Ethiopia with the use of Belarusian technologies. The Belarusian minister of foreign affairs suggested including a representative of the holding company in the work of the future intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation. “Ethiopian representatives showed a keen interest in Belarusian technologies in the sugar industry,” the ministry said.

Deliveries of Belarusian machinery, establishment of joint ventures and personnel training in Belarusian universities were discussed at a meeting with Ethiopian Minister of Mines and Petroleum Habtamu Tegegne. Belarus presented mining, truck and construction machinery to the Ethiopian partners, emphasizing the possibilities of its full service support. “The Ethiopian minister asked for assistance in the development of mineral deposits available in Ethiopia,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

During the meeting with Ethiopia's State Minister of Agriculture Sofia Kassa, the main emphasis was placed on training personnel for Ethiopia at four Belarusian agricultural universities, as well as on the use of Belarusian agricultural mechanization technologies. The Ethiopian side expressed interest in establishing a long-term partnership in supplying Belarusian fertilizers to Ethiopia.  

“Maksim Ryzhenkov concluded his visit to Ethiopia with a meeting with Ethiopian Minister of Defense Aisha Mohammed. The parties discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation in defense and military-technical areas, including the exchange of visits and implementation of joint initiatives,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.  

According to the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the official visit confirmed the mutual interest of Belarus and Ethiopia in expanding cooperation in trade, economic, technological and humanitarian areas. “The agreements reached will lay the foundation for the implementation of specific projects within the roadmap of bilateral partnership,” the ministry stressed.