Team Blitz India
DUBAI: President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, hosted President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, at his personal residence on December 8.
The discussions between the two leaders delved into various aspects of the bilateral agenda, building upon the commitments made during their previous meeting in February.
At that time, both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, and the recent talks aimed to synchronize the implementation of crucial projects initiated by Belarus and the UAE. Among the Gulf Arab states, the UAE stands out as the primary trade partner for Belarus, marked by a consistent rise in trade turnover.
The two countries have witnessed noteworthy progress in their economic collaboration, with the UAE securing the third position in total investments in the Belarusian economy last year.
Belarusian economy is dependent on manufacturing and agricultural exports. The burgeoning Belarusian agricultural exports to the Gulf states have been further propelled by prevailing geopolitical and macroeconomic trends.
In May 2022, Minsk formalised preliminary agreements for meat exports to the UAE, prompting inspections by religious certifiers at five poultry farms and three meat processing factories to verify adherence to halal requirements. As of October 2022, a total of 21 Belarusian meat companies, along with 14 dairy producers and seven poultry processing firms, had obtained halal certificates.
The current meeting, lasting approximately two hours, unfolded at the personal residence of the UAE President, defined by the host as a “home, family format.” President Lukashenko expressed gratitude to his Emirati counterpart for the warm reception and attentive approach extended to the Belarusian delegation.