Opinion: thanks to Lukashenko, Belarus is introducing new type and form of interaction with African countries

Last weekend, on December 9th, Belarus’ President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, and their negotiations ended with the signing of a roadmap for the development of co-operation between the two states, as well as a package of documents aimed at developing interaction in various fields. In his talk with Alfa Radio, Aleksei Avdonin, an expert at the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies, explained why partnership with African countries is important for Belarus.

Mr. Avdonin noted, “It is necessary to emphasise the fact that, on meeting the leaders of Equatorial Guinea, the President very clearly indicated that Belarus is coming to this country with technology.”

The presenter of the programme, Vadim Shepet, noted that Aleksandr Lukashenko had drawn attention to the fact that the work on the development of co-operation in various fields between the countries had been done in just a year. When asked why the President focused on speed, the expert explained, “This is because speed is now the most valuable currency. Those who are more efficient and more productive will enjoy good economic results, since time is getting compressed. All need an end result – speculating on how much we can earn on this or that project, bring to our economy, and how effectively it will grow. Naturally, the effectiveness of our managers, those who are responsible for the implementation of certain projects, depends on this. As regards Africa, we must say that it is now considered by all major countries and regions as the main centre of future growth of the entire global economy. Those who are already entering Africa will stay there and benefit from these investments and co-operation. As for Belarus, it will be at the epicentre of global economic growth. As a result, the welfare of our citizens and the qualifications of our employees will definitely increase, the economy will grow, co-operation will strengthen, active study of the African region will enhance, and new directions will emerge – i.e. in our higher educational institutions (that will focus on the study of this region), as well as though creation of new investment and production companies with African countries. Some might laugh and criticise, but Africa is no longer the region it was at the beginning of the 20th century. The time for Africa has come, and all major economic and analytical centres unequivocally view it as the future driver of the global economy.”

The expert also commented on Belarus' position with regard to co-operation with African countries, “Thanks to our President, Belarus is introducing a completely new type and form of interaction with African countries, unlike the West. The Head of State always emphasises that we do not focus on just delivering our goods and products to the region and making money from it: we are rather bringing technology there, giving the country the opportunity to independently develop its economy to the proper level. We supply tractors, combines and mechanise agriculture, so the region can produce its own products and solve the problem of hunger. We provide technologies for the production of medicines, biotechnology and give the opportunity to solve the problems of diseases in both humans and animals. All this increases the well-being of these peoples, and this means that – if the state is richer – Belarus, being its partner, will also be rich. This concept is very attractive to the leaders of African countries, and they are ready to welcome Belarus’ Head of State with open doors and hearts.”