NAY PYI TAW March 7
Myanmar-Belarus Business Forum was held at President Hotel in Minsk yesterday evening at local time with an opening address delivered by Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present at the forum were SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, SAC member Gene ral Nyo Saw, union ministers, Myanmar Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus U Thit Lin Ohn and senior officers of the delegation, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Mr. Yuri Shuleiko and senior officials of the Belarus government, Chairman U Aye Win and members of Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and The Belarus-Myanmar Business Forum is in progress in Minsk. The Belarus-Myanmar Business Forum is in progress in Minsk. Industry(UMFCCI), entrepreneurs of Belarus and invited guests.
In his opening address, the Senior General said it is common knowledge that Myanmar starts relations with partner countries via the diplomatic channel, and overcomes various kinds of challenges hand in hand with them. Myanmar established diplomatic relations with Belarus in 1999, and later solidified mutual trust and understanding between the two countries.
The process of further cementing mutual trust and understanding will go through the practical realization of people to-people, entrepreneur-to-entrepreneur, government department-to-government department and government-to-government relations between the two countries, especially both countries will materialize a common future vision through economic cooperation, trade and investment.
The forum reminds me of a draft contract on initiation of pledges in connection with investments Belarus sent over a decade and Myanmar’s response to the offer with keen interest. Here, I would like to inform Belarus that with keen interest Myanmar had executed the revival of your interest and the pledges on cooperation in investment.
Although the task of setting up a joint commission and identifying the areas for joint action have not been realized at present yet, the degree of progress in bilateral discussion between the two countries can be witnessed during the administration of SAC. And now, the progress in G2 friendly relations, bilateral cooperation, promotion of diplomatic relations and development of trade and investment sectors is clearly visible.
The Senior General expressed pleasure for the initiation of discussions on Myanmar Belarus cooperation in education, agriculture, medication, industry and tourism, and a scholarship program for studying science and advanced technologies in Belarus can be initiated and thanked Belarus for paying attention to Myanmar to this extent.
He said the forum will provide Myanmar with an opportunity to closely study Belarus’s efforts and experiences in reaching the development corridor through the private sector development.
Myanmar’s special interest is in a closer study of the production growth, job generation for the people and increase in income, poverty alleviation and food sufficiency, he said, expressing belief that bilateral trade, investment and cooperation can be promoted along side the experience sharing process with Belarus.
Currently, trade between the two countries has reached a certain degree of progress, as Belarus is among the top producers of chemical fertilizers, essential input for an agro-based country.
As an agriculture-based country, Myanmar’s main interest is in the increase in fertilizer imports. In this regard, business partners from Belarus are invited to make investments in the chemical fertilizer production industry, a prioritized sector of Myanmar.
As Myanmar possesses a favorable climate and geographical condition, it is promoting agriculture-based production business as the main production industry. Myanmar desires a closer cooperation with Belarus, which is in the forefront when it comes to IT, for value adding the agricultural goods and reaching the smart agriculture level through mechanized farming.
It is common knowledge that Myanmar is generating job opportunities region wise and is striving for human resources development. If Myanmar receives advanced technology and other support from Belarus, a partner country, the country’s labour-power will further develop, enhancing the support for further cementing bilateral cooperation.
At the Myanmar-Belarus Business Forum, held on 10 January 2025, officials of both countries could share the potentials of fertilizer, car production, medicine production, agriculture, veterinary medicine production, food production and fisheries sectors. He expressed belief that the success in holding the business meeting bilaterally will provide potentials for promoting future cooperation between the two countries.
The Senior General then expressed special pleasures for sharing and acknowledging the potentials for bilateral cooperation and investment opportunities, and pointed out the must-do sector: the signing of investment agreements between the two countries, especially the revival of the mutually agreed draft contract. It is be lieved that the future is packed with many more mutually beneficial potentials, he said, and thanked the participants from Belarus for their attentiveness and activeness.
In his greetings, the Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus said the country is carrying out agriculture-based production businesses. Technological cooperation is a requisite for progress of the agro-production industry. The forum will be very beneficial for both countries.
UMFCCI president and officials from Belarus presented topic-wise discussions, and the first part of the forum concluded.
The second part was held with the participation of Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Dr Kan Zaw, and officials of both nations conducted the brief presentation of topic-wise papers.
Then the Union Minister and the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Belarus gave the concluding remarks.
MoUs on Myanmar-Belarus business cooperation were signed and exchanged by the Myanmar ambassador and entrepreneurs from Myanmar and Belarusian officials.
