Events of the second day of the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus M.Ryzhenkov to Ethiopia

On April 14, 2025, within the official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Maxim Ryzhenkov, to Ethiopia, the delegation held a series of negotiations with key representatives of the Ethiopian government and business.

During the meeting with the Minister of Culture and Sport of Ethiopia, Shewit Shanka, the parties agreed to exchange experience in the museology and develop humanitarian cooperation. Minister M.Ryzhenkov invited Ethiopian artists to perform at the international festival "Slavianski Bazaar in 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.

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

During the negotiations with the Minister of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia, Belete Molla, the Belarusian party suggested that the Ethiopian counterparts study the Belarusian experience in setting up the High Technologies Park, including legal and organisational aspects. The discussion focused on cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, research programmes and business incubators.

Minister B.Molla supported the idea of adapting Belarusian technologies to the needs of Ethiopia and proposed to coordinate actions at international platforms to ensure access to the sea for landlocked states.

In the framework of the dialogue with the Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian Investment Holding, Brook Taye, agreements were reached to modernise Ethiopia's production base with the use of Belarusian technologies.

For reference: Ethiopian Investment Holding is a state-owned company that manages more than 40 enterprises in the energy, agro-industry, telecommunications and infrastructure sectors. Minister M.Ryzhenkov proposed to include a representative of the holding in the work of the future Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation. The Ethiopian party was particularly interested in Belarusian technologies in the sugar industry. The holding has been invited to participate in the Belagro-2025 exhibition.

At the meeting with the Minister of Mines and Petroleum of Ethiopia, Habtamu Tegegne, the parties discussed supplies of Belarusian vehicles, the establishment of joint ventures and personnel training at Belarusian universities. The deputy ministers of agriculture and industry of Belarus presented mining, cargo and construction vehicles to the Ethiopian partners, stressing the possibility of its full service support.

The Ethiopian Minister requested assistance in the development of mineral deposits available in Ethiopia.

During the bilateral meeting with the State Minister of Agriculture of Ethiopia, Sofia Kassa, the main emphasis was placed on training personnel for Ethiopia at four Belarusian agricultural universities, as well as on the introduction of Belarusian agricultural mechanisation technologies.

The Ethiopian party expressed interest in establishing long-term partnership in supplying Belarusian fertilisers to Ethiopia.

Minister S.Kassa was invited to visit Belarus during the Belagro-2025 exhibition to define specific cooperation projects.

M.Ryzhenkov's visit to Ethiopia ended with a meeting with the Minister of Defense of Ethiopia, Aisha Mohammed, during which the parties discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation in the defence and military-technical sectors, including exchange of visits and implementation of joint initiatives.

The official visit of Minister M.Ryzhenkov to Ethiopia confirmed the mutual interest of Belarus and Ethiopia in expanding cooperation in trade, economic, technological and humanitarian spheres. The agreements reached will lay the foundation for the implementation of specific projects within the roadmap of the bilateral partnership.

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