Interview by the Consul General of Belarus in Mumbai A.Matsukou to the Indian journal “On Trade”

In a conversation marked by warmth and vision, Mr. Alexander Matsukou, Consul General of the Republic of Belarus in Mumbai, reflects on the enduring friendship and expanding cooperation between Belarus and India. From thriving trade and educational exchanges to cultural diplomacy and innovation-driven partnerships, both nations are working closely to build a more interconnected future. With direct connectivity, shared values, and mutual respect at the core, this dialogue reaffirms the commitment to deeper bilateral ties in the years to come.

India and Belarus have enjoyed cordial economic relations for several decades, reinforced by numerous agreements to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, quality standards, sports, skill development, and more. Could you share insights on the evolving commercial partnership across various sectors for the benefit of our business members?

Belarus and India cooperate in numerous fields of international trade which is stipulated by many bilateral agreements. For decades Belarus has exported potash fertilizers, trucks, wood cellulose, hydrazine, hydroxylamine, fiberglass, monofilament, plait of synthetic threads, construction details from plastics, cord materials and many more to India. In return, India has supplied Belarus with retail and non-retail pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, seafood, heterocyclic compounds containing nitrogen atoms, shoe uppers, organic colouring matter, parts and accessories for cars and tractors, coffee, tea (natural and its essences and concentrates), peanuts, etc.

Unfortunately, Western economic sanctions imposed on Belarus in certain domains – which contradicts the UN Charter and International Law – have hindered the full realization of our trade potential with India. However, thanks to the measures we’ve taken, we are beginning to see positive outcomes. 

On the other hand, I believe there is a reason to be, in a way, proud of these sanctions. They indicate that the countries imposing them recognize the quality of Belarusian goods and services and view us as a serious competitor in global markets. Unfortunately, instead of engaging in fair competition, some have chosen to use non-competitive measures. 

To sustain the relations with Indian partners Belarusian companies have visited India for participation in numerous expos as well as for holding business talks and negotiations. Belarus is also witnessing a growing demand for Indian manpower with an increasing number of visas issued to Indians for work and other purposes. Since 2020, the inflow of Indian visitors has tripled, although it has not yet returned to pre-COVID levels seen in 2019.

Since August 2022 we have been enjoying the direct flights connecting Minsk and Delhi on a regular basis. Both countries are looking forward to enhancing regional collaboration.

Other than this, Belarus would also like to foster cultural cooperation with India, especially in cinema, education and tourism. In 2024, National cinema studio “Belarusfilm” participated in Mumbai International Film Festival (June) and International Film Festival of India (November) bringing to Indian audience a piece of Belarusian culture with its films. At IFFI, the Belarusian film ‘The Dark Castle’ was showcased during the Gala Premiere under the ‘From the Consulates – 2024’ category. The film received an exceptionally warm response, met with enthusiastic applause and keen interest from the Indian public.

With Indian students primarily pursuing medical studies in various Belarusian universities, how can both countries further strengthen their collaboration in education, as well as science and technology?

Belarus possesses a wide network of higher and medium professional educational establishments. Traditionally, medicine remains the most popular field among young Indians and there are well founded grounds for that. 
The education is offered both in Russian and in English. But I believe, education in Russian brings much more benefits and opportunities. It not only allows students to learn one more language but also gives a first-hand experience of living abroad and learning the culture and traditions of the hosting country.

Indian students in Belarus are much higher than commonly cited figures and are engaged mostly in medical and technical studies. Besides, the recent trend is that more and more Indian students travel to Belarus to participate in linguistic trainings particularly to study Russian. The reason for this being the strengthening economic ties between the countries which brings to life the demand for the language training and for better communications.  

We hope to welcome more young Indians to Belarus for studies and academic exchanges. It is equally important that universities, faculties, and students from both countries engage in mutual exchanges, benefitting from one another’s expertise, perspectives, and academic offerings.

For instance, as a part of these efforts, in 2024-25 we organized and held three teleconferences “Minsk-Mumbai”, in cooperation with the Lyceum of the Belarusian State University, on the subject “Culture Unites Us”. In November, in one of the conferences a variety of topics were discussed like “Ancient Belarusian architecture” (in comparison with India), “Traditional festivals of Belarus” (in comparison with India), “Parallel poetry of Belarus and India”, “Objects of intangible heritage of UNESCO in Belarus and India”, “Development of agro- and ecotourism in Belarus and India”, “Traditional Belarusian costume” (in comparison with India), “Similarities between Marathi and Russian language”, “Neuroscience and cognitive intelligence”. The participants were also shown an Indian documentary film “Wari – Spirit of Management”. During the four hours of interaction, the participants were speaking 5 languages: Marathi, Hindi, Belarusian, Russian, English.

India and Belarus held their first-ever Consular Dialogue last year, with a strong emphasis on strengthening people-to-people ties. Could you share the progress made so far on the key outcomes of this dialogue?

Well-developed infrastructure has encouraged and facilitated trips and travelling between the two nations which has prompted the authorities for the Consular Dialogue, or, as we call it, interministerial consultations between the countries on consular affairs. It was the first time ever when the two sides gathered together at the table to discuss consular concerns of mutual interest. 

It is a shared objective of both governments to encourage and facilitate greater people-to-people movement. However, with the rise in travel, we must also acknowledge the parallel increase in challenges—ranging from minor offenses to more serious issues such as irregular migration and human trafficking, often orchestrated by illicit networks.

Consular consultations provide an effective platform to address such sensitive matters. These dialogues typically focus on measures to promote safe and positive migration, mitigate associated risks, ensure the protection of citizens' rights on both sides, and foster the exchange of statistics and best practices. They offer a constructive and pragmatic approach to resolving concerns that affect our compatriots abroad.

During the consultations held in Minsk, both sides were driven by the classical approaches. They have appreciated the functionality of the direct flights between New Delhi and Minsk, the growth of mutual travels, exchanged the views on visa processes and practices and discussed how to counteract illegal migration along with other items on the agenda. Both nations also agreed to look into ways to increase travel between them. The session was held in a very friendly and constructive manner. 

We sincerely hope the practice of holding Consular Dialogue sessions between Belarus and India will continue on a regular basis. As part of our broader outreach, I would like to take this opportunity to invite all readers and tourism agencies to explore what Belarus has to offer. We warmly welcome our Indian friends to visit and experience the beauty, culture, and hospitality of our country.

According to media reports, both countries are collaborating on joint pharmaceutical production at the Dr. Yusuf Hamied Scientific and Practical Centre in Minsk. Could you elaborate on the growing partnership in the pharmaceutical sector?

Pharmaceuticals play a significant role in the wellbeing of an individual’s life and is an important part of any country’s social security. Indian pharma is known widely in the world due to its outstanding quality and affordable prices. In Belarus we appreciate the benefits of Indian pharmaceuticals and welcome opportunities for collaboration with Indian pharma companies.

One such project is a joint innovative production of pharmaceuticals at the Yusuf Hamied Pharma R&D Center. Belarusian company has already completed construction of an industrial building of 33 000 sq.m. Apart from that experimental industrial equipment from India was delivered to Belarus for the same.

This is one of the positive examples of cooperation between the countries in pharma. Hopefully, many more will follow. 

It is observed that India has emerged as an increasingly attractive destination for Belarusian tourists in recent times. Could you share your strategy for strengthening bilateral ties through tourism and cultural exchange?

Let’s be frank, any diplomatic or consular mission is, to a large extent, established to promote the interests of its country, including its culture and tourism. In India, our mission is actively working to raise awareness and appreciation of Belarus. Likewise, the Indian Embassy in Belarus plays a similar role in encouraging tourism to India. 

This is how it works. The two sides create a two-way road of exchange which is essential to strengthen bilateral ties. It is my personal belief that people-to-people connections are the true driving force behind meaningful engagement. It is this human chemistry that makes things happen. Apart from that, knowledge of the country, its society, style of living are also essential to understand one another. 

Belarusian tourists very often prefer to pass the time on the beautiful shiny beaches. Sometimes they need yoga practices, sometimes spiritual practices. That’s why they choose to travel to India.

For Indian tourists Belarus is now “terra incognita” – unknown land. Many have traveled extensively across the European Union and visited Russia multiple times. Belarus lies between these regions, absorbing the best of both worlds. And yet, it remains largely undiscovered by Indian travelers.

In our day-to-day activities, we continue to witness a growing interest from Indian tourists and travel agencies in exploring Belarus. This gives us hope that Belarus will soon become a sought-after destination for Indian travelers, just as India has long held a special place in the hearts of Belarusians. 

How does Belarus plan to contribute to India’s flagship initiatives such as Make in India, Smart Cities, and the country’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047?

In recent decades, India has become as attractive for investments as never before. The initiatives like “Make in India” and “Smart Cities” are aimed to enhance the economic attractiveness with growth to the “Viksit Bharat 2047” as a desired result. 

I am sure, given the size and diversity of India, it is capable to embed any initiatives and projects of any nation. 

Belarusian IT companies would gladly participate in those projects. In fact, many are actively exploring opportunities to collaborate with their Indian counterparts, particularly in research and development. Belarus has technological expertise across various sectors—from retail to the nuclear industry—that could be of great value to Indian businesses.

Industrial companies are seeking to export best practices and goods to India with subsequent development of cooperation with Indian business in various forms such as joint ventures, technologies transfer and more. At the same time, Indian companies are looking for the opportunities to expand its businesses far beyond country’s borders and we believe Belarus offers a strategic and reliable platform for such expansion, paving the way for mutually beneficial partnerships.

What message would you like to convey to Indian investors and small businesses seeking opportunities in the Belarusian market?

In Belarus we have created necessary preconditions to attract investors and to protect their rights and funds.

Geographically, Belarus is situated in the very centre of Europe. The country has very attractive logistical infrastructure which is well connected to the free and special economic zones making it ideal for long lasting cooperation for investors. 

We offer a wide range of attractive incentives to Indian and other foreign investors, including benefits that extend over several years—even decades. The investment process is supported by minimal bureaucratic barriers, streamlined administrative procedures, and ongoing digitalization of business registration and licensing systems. These measures have significantly enhanced the ease of setting up manufacturing and industrial operations in the country. 

Hospitable attitude of Belarusians and welcoming atmosphere will make your Belarusian experience unforgettable! 

Welcome to Belarus! Your presence is always awaited and appreciated!