{"id":162320,"date":"2025-10-30T15:45:57","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T12:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/162320\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"belarus-eyes-africas-untapped-trade-potential-lukasenka","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/162320\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus eyes Africa\u2019s untapped trade potential \u2013 \u0141uka\u0161enka"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

October 30, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Africa is a market of the future for Belarus, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka said at a government conference on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is precisely there that the reserve for export diversification lies for the key sectors of our economy, such as agriculture, mechanical engineering, the production of mineral fertilizers and others,\u201d \u0141uka\u0161enka said, according to his press office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, he denied seeing any signs of systematic work by the government to promote ties with African countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He went on to cite data reflecting Africa’s potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, the continent\u2019s GDP grew faster than the world average: more than 4 percent vs. 3 percent. Population is growing by 2 to 3 percent a year. However, Africa\u2019s share in international trade is small, just 2.6 percent in exports and 3 percent in imports. This suggests a huge latent demand, \u0141uka\u0161enka stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that Africa accounts for a third of the world\u2019s mineral reserves, including 8 percent of natural gas, 12 percent of oil, 40 percent of gold and up to 90 percent of chromium and platinum. \u201cThis is turning Africa into a locomotive that can pull us forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to \u0141uka\u0161enka, the government’s action program for cooperation with Africa in 2024\u20132026 is not ambitious enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the report, Belarus’ exports to African countries (excluding petroleum products, fertilizers and special products) totaled $130 million and account for less than a quarter of total deliveries. All African countries combined accounted for only 2 percent of Belarus\u2019 total exports in the eight months of the year. The share rose from 1.9 percent in the same period last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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