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Peter Matika
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A TOTAL of 11 companies from Belarus are exhibiting at the on-going Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo as cordial bilateral relations between the two countries continue to blossom.
The massive footprint of Belarusian businesses follows the recent visit to Zimbabwe by President Alexander Lukashenko in January this year.

Yesterday Chronicle Business visited the Belarus stand in Hall 4 where representatives of the 11 companies are exhibiting and expressed excitement to be part of this year’s prime showcase.

Head of the exhibitions department, Anna Prineslik, said this was the third time Belarus was exhibiting in the country and were glad to have done so as this cements ties between the two countries.

“This is our third time to be exhibiting in the country. The first time was in 2018 while the second time was last year. We believe that the union between our two countries has opened doors for us in terms of trade and alliance,” she said.

“So far, since we set up at the exhibition, we have received hundreds of inquiries and this just goes to show how strong the ties between our countries are.”

Among the exhibiting Belarusian companies are those who are into agriculture, mining, and machinery manufacturing and trading.

“Some of the companies here are Bellakt, which is one of the biggest producers of baby food in Belarus. The company produces dairy products, food for pregnant and lactating women, 35 percent of the products are exported across the globe.

“Another is Lidakhlebo, which produces flour, pasta, grain, premixes and animal feed,” said Prineslik.
One of the exhibiting companies at the Belarusian stand is Aftrade DMCC, which manufactures machinery and equipment, as well as the relevant technologies for road construction, municipal, forest and agricultural machinery. Zimbabwe is one of the major beneficiaries of Aftrade after it entered into a US$66 million agricultural equipment deal with Belarus in a bid to boost agricultural productivity, ensure national food security and restore Zimbabwe as the breadbasket of the region.

President Mnangagwa and his Belarus counterpart, Aleksandr Lukashenko, commissioned 1 635 tractors, 16 combine harvesters and other farming equipment including boom sprayers with a combined value of US$66 million in January during President Lukashenko’s visit.

The agricultural equipment is part of the country’s Phase 2 of the Belarus Mechanisation Facility.
Phase One saw the delivery of 474 tractors, 60 combine harvesters, 210 planters and five low-bed trucks to farmers.

“Another company of note is Belaz holdings. It is the major global manufacturer of mining dump trucks and transport equipment for mining and construction. Another company is Amkodor Holdings. The company strives to meet the rapidly changing reality of the surrounding world,” said Prineslik.

“The widespread use of advanced technologies allows the company to produce a line of modern special-purpose equipment used in road construction, municipal and agricultural industries, forestry, logistics and fuel and energy complexes.”

The Belarus official said some of the areas of co-operation that will be strengthened include energy, manufacturing, transport, logistics and development of agricultural projects.

In 2019, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Joint Permanent Commission on Co-operation.

“We are here to fulfill our promise to the country and to maintain relations and ties. We will be engaging more companies and interested individuals in growing our economies. We also love the atmosphere here, as well as the friendliness of the people. There is so much love and warmth all around,” said Prineslik.

Belarus has a population of only about 9,4 million but has a Gross Domestic Product of US$79,7 billion with an economy anchored mainly on manufacturing and agriculture and is the 13th largest and the 20th most populous country in Europe.

In 2019, President Mnangagwa visited Belarus where, together with President Lukashenko, they committed to strengthen co-operation in various sectors that include agriculture, mining, infrastructural development and science and innovation.

There have been reciprocal visits by officials from the two countries where co-operation in several facets of the economy has been enhanced further giving impetus to the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa’s policy thrust of engagement and re-engagement as the country moves towards attainment of an upper middle-class income economy anchored on the National Development Strategy 1.

Zimbabwe has received multi-sectoral support from Belarus since the countries established diplomatic relations 30 years ago. Several bilateral cooperation agreements were signed providing a legal framework for multi-sectoral cooperation.

Zimbabwe has also hosted a delegation from Belarus who met officials from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to discuss cooperation and continued support in the supply of farm mechanisation equipment to Zimbabwe. Belarus has committed to supply fertilisers, increase national strategic grain reserves, and supply mechanised equipment.