Iran and Belarus Deepen Agricultural Cooperation
A strategic dialogue occurred between the Iranian Minister for Agriculture, Gholamreza Nouri Qezeljeh, and his Belarusian counterpart, Yuri Gorlov. The conversation revolved around strengthening agricultural ties. The Iranian Minister lauded Belarus for its strong support during the difficult war conditions imposed by the Zionist regime. He took this opportunity to express Iran’s desire and readiness to enhance their cooperative ventures in various fields such as agricultural machinery, dairy farming, joint chemical fertilizer projects, and livestock farming.
Mr. Qezeljeh also articulated Iran’s willingness to increase their export of agricultural produce, like vegetables, dried fruits, and fresh fruits, to Belarus. This move comes as an effort to strengthen economic ties between the two nations. The Belarusian Minister reiterated his nation’s endorsement of Iran’s principled stands. He expressed gratitude for the proactive participation of the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture in the agricultural exhibition in Minsk, Belarus, earlier this year.
The Minister from Belarus also mentioned his satisfaction with the advancements in Iran-Belarus agricultural cooperation. Future interactions were set against the backdrop of an anticipated visit by the Iranian President to Minsk. In conjunction, it was agreed that three critical documents, pertaining to forestry, agricultural research, veterinary and livestock quarantine would be signed to solidify their collaboration.
In the middle of January, Iran’s minister of industry, mining, and trade, Mohammad Atabak, conducted a visit that culminated in the inauguration of the Iran Trade Centre in Minsk. This remarkable event witnessed the presence of the deputy minister and the head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO). A meeting was also held with the Iranian business representatives present in Belarus to discuss ways to ease trade practices between the two nations.
Nearly a week later, on 22nd January, a meeting happened at Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA). In focus was Belarusian Ambassador to Iran and TCCIMA Head Mojtaba Najafi Arab discussing different routes to expand commercial and economic ties. The vital aspect of this discussion was the recent free trade agreement between Iran and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)—seen as a pivotal moment that could boost Iran’s trade with EAEU significantly.
Collaborations between the Tehran and Minsk chambers could be instrumental in shaping the economic relationship between Iran and Belarus, the latter being a part of EAEU. While the current level of trade between Tehran and Minsk has a lot of room for growth, the distinct industrial strength and economic potential of both nations have been recognized. The urgent need to exploit these opportunities to fortify their economic relationship was discussed.
Platforms like the Tehran and Minsk chambers are seen as beneficial for identifying new streams of investment, facilitating trade cooperation, and introducing reliable businesses from both countries. There was also a proposal to establish a Tehran-Minsk Economic Cooperation Council. This council would address obstacles, find opportunities, and ease the involvement of the private sector between Iran and Belarus.
In early December 2024, a meeting between the Head of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA), Samad Hasanzadeh, and the Belarusian ambassador to Iran took place. Mr. Hasanzadeh emphasized the necessity of heightening bilateral financial exchanges using cooperative mechanisms and local currencies to facilitate this change.
The head of ICCIMA encouraged Belarusian investors to consider joint ventures in various sectors in Iran, such as pharmaceuticals, medical apparatus, livestock, and dairy products. He referenced the secure investment environment in his country as a lucrative opportunity for potential investors. The topic of tourism was brought into the fray, with discussions about implementing measures to ease the issuance of tourism and business visas.
It was suggested that establishing direct flights between the two nations could significantly boost people-to-people connections and facilitate tourism. The Belarusian ambassador laid out plans for an expanded economic accord, notably the establishment of a joint trade house in Minsk. This initiative, as per the ambassador, would fall under the mutual economic commission between the two nations.
These multilateral engagements between the two countries underline the shared intention to further their mutual economic interests. It shows a consistent effort from both sides to invest in areas where they could exploit their unique strengths to boost cooperation. The avenues discussed varied from agriculture to commerce, with an increased focus on leveraging local capabilities to cement their bilateral ties.
In light of these proceedings, it’s clear that the groundwork to bolster Iran-Belarus relations is well under way. The wide range of topics covered during these strategic dialogues substantiates the intention of both nations to build holistic ties that span across different sectors. The foundation for a robust, cooperative ecosystem that could benefit each other’s economy is being meticulously laid.
From agriculture to commerce to tourism, these dialogues are crafting pathways to a future where both Iran and Belarus could maximize their economic potential. With institutional frameworks being designed to address challenges and enable collaborations, the future of Iran-Belarus ties certainly looks promising.