MINSK, 3 March (BelTA) – Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov arrived in the Togolese Republic on a working visit on 2 March. The first-ever high-level visit is aimed at elevating bilateral relations to a qualitatively new level,
BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Belarusian delegation includes representatives of the Industry Ministry and the Agriculture and Food Ministry, which underscores the focus on practical economic cooperation.
New agreements and memoranda
During talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Togolese Abroad Robert Dussey, the parties discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral relations. It was stated that the current level of interaction does not fully meet the potential of the two states, and a fundamental agreement was reached to step it up.
Maxim Ryzhenkov invited his Togolese counterpart to pay an official visit to Belarus. The invitation was kindly accepted; the dates of the visit will be arranged in due course.
“The meeting focused on expanding trade and economic cooperation. It was noted that Belarus regards Togo as one of its priority partners on the African continent and as an important logistics hub for entering the markets of the Sahel countries,” the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the signing of an intergovernmental agreement on visa waiver for holders of diplomatic and service passports, as well as a memorandum of understanding between the foreign ministries of the two countries on holding political consultations. These documents lay a solid foundation for the further development of the political dialogue.
The parties agreed to step up efforts to improve the legal framework, primarily in trade and economy. Priority tasks include preparing agreements on the avoidance of double taxation and on the protection of investments, as well as drafting a roadmap for bilateral cooperation.
The Belarusian side submitted to its Togolese counterparts three draft documents for consideration: an agreement between the chambers of commerce and industry, and accords on agricultural cooperation and export lending.
“The Togolese side showed particular interest in developing humanitarian cooperation, primarily in education and high technologies. Maxim Ryzhenkov provided his counterpart with detailed information about the opportunities offered by the Belarusian education system, the activities of the Hi-Tech Park, and the scientific and technical potential of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB). During the discussion of the international agenda, the heads of the foreign ministries of the two countries confirmed the similarity of approaches to key regional and global issues, including conflict settlement and the role of states in maintaining international stability,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed.
Preparation for top-level visit
The first day of the visit culminated in a meeting between the Belarusian foreign minister and President of the Council of Ministers of Togo Faure Gnassingbé. The parties identified a wide range of promising areas for cooperation, covering the political, trade, economic, and humanitarian domains.
The Togolese head of state expressed full support for all the agreements reached during the visit. Relevant instructions will be given to the heads of all sectoral ministries of the country.
Maxim Ryzhenkov conveyed an invitation from Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to the head of the Togolese government to visit Belarus. The invitation was kindly accepted; the dates of the visit will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.
Cooperation in agriculture and industry
Particular attention during the visit was paid to agricultural issues. During talks with Togolese Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development Antoine Lékpa Gbégbéni, the parties discussed in detail the prospects for cooperation. An agreement was reached to develop an algorithm aimed at ensuring access for Belarusian food products to the Togolese market.
“The Belarusian side confirmed its readiness to offer its Togolese partners not just one-off supplies of machinery, but comprehensive solutions for the mechanization of agriculture, including investment, training for local specialists, and the organization of assembly facilities. In Togo, agriculture accounts for 40% of the economy, so the minster expressed interest in cooperation in mechanization, irrigation, and the creation of modern warehousing infrastructure,” the ministry said.
Belarusian deputy minister of agriculture and food gave a detailed presentation on the opportunities for interaction, from the design of agro-industrial complexes to the supply of seed material and bioadditives. An invitation was extended to the Togolese side to take part in the Belagro international exhibition, and the invitation was accepted.
Belarusian deputy industry minister confirmed the readiness to provide comprehensive support for Belarusian equipment throughout its lifecycle in Togo. The Togolese partners expressed interest in establishing a network of multifunctional centers in the country that could provide not only maintenance services, but also leasing of machinery.
The meeting culminated in the completion of the certification process, granting Belarusian food products access to the Togolese market. The Belarusian side provided its Togolese counterparts with detailed information for further study, which lays a foundation for translating the agreements reached into practice.
Maxim Ryzhenkov also visited a bus depot in Lomé, where he observed the operation of Belarusian buses in the suburbs of the capital. The diplomat highly commended the effectiveness of cooperation in this area.