State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing addresses the Myanmar-Belarus Business Forum at the Hotel President in Minsk

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing expressed his confidence that the successful economic discussions held together with Belarus would lead to greater future collaboration and an enhanced partnership between the two countries.
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered a speech at the opening of the Myanmar-Belarus Business Forum at the Hotel President in Minsk on the evening of 6 March.
In his speech, the Senior General said that Myanmar established diplomatic relations with partner countries and has overcome various challenges together through cooperation.
Similarly, Myanmar initiated diplomatic relations with Belarus in 1999 and has successfully built strong mutual trust and understanding.
At present, he continued, mutual trust will be further strengthened through the implementation of people-to-people relations, business-to-business relations, intergovernmental departmental relations, and government-to-government relations between the two countries.
The Senior General expressed his confidence that the successful economic discussions held together would lead to greater future collaboration and an enhanced partnership between the two countries. He underlined that economic cooperation, trade, and investment-related connections lead to the starting point for stepping toward a shared future.
He recounted that more than a decade ago, a draft agreement was sent from Belarus regarding commitments for investment cooperation, to which Myanmar responded with interest. At this moment, Myanmar has been making efforts to revive its commitment to investment cooperation in alignment with the renewed interest of Belarus.
Currently, he underscored that although a joint commission has not yet been established between the two countries to define and outline areas of cooperation, discussions between the two nations have reached a certain level of progress in the time of the State Administration Council. Efforts are being made to strengthen friendly relations between the two governments, enhance bilateral cooperation and diplomatic relations, and promote progress in trade and investment sectors.
He noted that it is gratifying to learn that discussions have begun on enhancing cooperation between Myanmar and Belarus in the fields of education, agriculture, livestock, pharmaceuticals, industry, and tourism, as well as on sending students to Belarus to study science and modern technologies. The Senior General expressed his thanks to Belarus for Belarus’s consideration and support for Myanmar.
The Senior General highlighted that Myanmar will have the opportunity to closely observe and learn from Belarus’s efforts and experiences in private sector development for its path to progress through such ceremonies.
He underscored that Myanmar is keen to study ways to develop the manufacturing sector, create more job opportunities and income for the people, reduce poverty, and enhance food security. By sharing your valuable experiences, both countries can also strengthen trade and investment cooperation.
He emphasized that the bilateral trade has been progressing to a certain extent. In particular, Belarus is recognized as a leading country in the production of fertilizers, which are essential for an agricultural nation.
Being an agriculture-based country, he spotted that Myanmar aims to primarily enhance the importation of fertilizers. The Senior General invited business partners from Belarus to invest in Myanmar’s fertilizer production sector, which is one of its prioritized investment areas.
He unveiled that Myanmar, due to its favourable natural conditions for land and water, has elevated agriculture and livestock-based industries as the country’s main production sectors. Myanmar wishes to cooperate closely with Belarus, which has reached the forefront in terms of information and technology, in order to produce value-added products and to upgrade its agricultural production to Smart Agriculture through a mechanized farming system.
He added that Myanmar is providing job opportunities in relevant areas and is making efforts to develop human resources. Thanks to the support and modern technology from its partner country Belarus, the capabilities of the workforce in Myanmar will improve, and it will help strengthen the cooperation between both sides, leading to a more sustainable and productive partnership.
The Senior General recounted that on 10 January 2025, during the Myanmar-Belarus Business Forum, officials from both countries shared the potential of various sectors, including the energy sector, automotive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, higher education, agriculture and livestock, veterinary medicine, food products, and water extraction industries.

The Senior General expressed his deep honour and pleasure to have the opportunity to share information about the potential cooperation and investment opportunities between the two countries. He said he believes that the signing of trade and investment agreements, particularly the draft investment agreement, is an important step. Both sides need to re-initiate this draft agreement of investment. There will be numerous opportunities for mutual benefits and positive outcomes for both sides in the future.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus extended greetings, saying that the Republic of Belarus is engaged in agricultural-based production industries and that it is important to collaborate on technologies to enhance agricultural production. He emphasized that hosting the Myanmar-Belarus Business Forum will bring significant benefits to both nations.
The president of UMFCCI and officials from the Republic of Belarus participated in the discussions in the first session of the forum. In the second forum, led by Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Dr Kan Zaw, officials of both countries discussed relevant sectors.
Union Minister Dr Kan Zaw and the President of the Belarusian Chambers of Commerce and Industry extended greetings. The Myanmar Ambassador to Belarus, Myanmar businesspersons and officials of the Republic of Belarus signed Myanmar-Belarus economic cooperation agreements and exchanged notes.
The forum was also attended by SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, Council Member General Nyo Saw, Union Ministers, Myanmar Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus U Thit Linn Ohn and senior officers of the delegation, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Mr Yuri Shuleiko, senior officers of the Belarusian Cabinet and guests. — MNA/TTA

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar