Belarus wants to access eastern, southern African markets through Tanzania

MINSK, 29 April (BelTA) – Belarus aims to use Tanzania as a gateway to the markets of Eastern and Southern Africa, Belarusian Foreign Affairs Minister Maxim Ryazhenkov said during a meeting with Minister of State for Planning and Investments Kitila Alexander Mkumbo at the Tanzanian Presidential Office, the press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry told BelTA.

Maxim Ryazhenkov said that Belarus sees Tanzania not only as a strategic partner in terms of developing bilateral trade and economic relations, but also as a platform to bring Belarusian and jointly produced goods to the markets of Eastern and Southern African countries.

The parties discussed a range of issues related to economic cooperation with a focus on implementing projects in agricultural mechanization, food security and the supply of Belarusian fire-fighting equipment and machinery.

An intergovernmental agreement was signed to establish a Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation, to develop new trade and economic projects and ensure high-quality work on already identified areas of cooperation.

During his visit to Tanzania, Maxim Ryzhenkov visited Benjamin William Mkapa, one of the country's key free economic zones, where he interacted with its management and reviewed the prospects of using Tanzanian FEZs to host joint production facilities, including with the intention to export to third countries.

For the same purpose, the Belarusian minister also examined the infrastructure and operations of the Port of Dar es Salaam, one of the largest commercial ports in East Africa. Goods handled through this port are shipped to Australia, Asia, the United States and various African countries.

“During the conversation, the parties discussed creating conditions for uninterrupted delivery of Belarusian goods through the ports of Tanzania, including the use of their facilities for the transshipment of Belarusian mineral fertilizers and organizing the production of compound fertilizers. Given Tanzania's membership in the East African Community, using the port will make it possible to supply Belarusian goods to African countries,” the MFA press service stressed.