Myanmar and Belarus have held discussions on enhancing trade in agricultural products and strengthening technical cooperation between the two countries.
A Myanmar delegation led by Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr. Ye Tint Tun visited Belarus from June 1 to 5 to explore opportunities for expanding agricultural trade and bilateral technical cooperation.
On June 1, the delegation met in Minsk with a team led by Ivan Smilhin, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of Belarus. Discussions focused on the export of frozen shrimp from Myanmar to Belarus, the import of meat, milk, and dairy products from Belarus to Myanmar, cooperation in sunflower and rapeseed cultivation and oil processing, cotton-to-yarn production, and the manufacture of agricultural machinery.
The two sides also discussed potential Belarusian investment in Myanmar’s cotton, coffee, mango, durian, and avocado industries, as well as cooperation between agricultural and livestock universities and research institutions in both countries.
On June 2, the Myanmar delegation attended the opening ceremony of the 36th International Specialized Exhibition. They visited exhibitions showcasing high-value meat products, premium dairy products, agricultural machinery, rapeseed and rapeseed oil, flax seeds and flax fiber products. The delegation also met with experts and business representatives and toured a state-owned rapeseed oil production plant.
On June 3, the delegation visited the approximately 1,100-hectare potato cultivation area of the Krakhmalsy Potato Processing Factory in the Minsk region, where potato farmers and processing facilities cooperate through coordinated government support. They also observed potato chip production processes and visited the Tolochinsky Canned Food Factory to study potato harvesting operations and beverage bottling production.
On June 4, the delegation toured the yarn and textile production facilities of the Baranovichi Cotton Production Association in Baranovichi City and observed the production of various textile products. They also visited the Gorodeya Sugar Factory, where they studied sugar production from sugar beets and the manufacture of various by-products.
On June 5, the Myanmar delegation met with Ms. Nadzeya Lazarevich, a senior official responsible for cooperation with Myanmar and Chairperson of Belarus’ state-owned small industrial products manufacturing and marketing organization. Discussions covered the export of Myanmar Arabica coffee and cotton to Belarus, cooperation in rapeseed cultivation and production, and collaboration between agricultural and livestock universities in both countries.
The delegation later attended a demonstration of large agricultural tractors and met with representatives from four universities, including the Belarusian Agricultural University, to discuss a student exchange program. Following the meetings, the deputy ministers of both countries signed the minutes of the Joint Working Group meeting that had been held on June 1.
