The meeting of heads of foreign diplomatic missions of Belarus with businessmen

The traditional annual meeting of the heads of diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Belarus with representatives of export-oriented enterprises and organizations was held at the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The event was attended by 53 heads of Belarusian diplomatic missions and consular offices, as well as over 200 representatives of companies and organizations of various fields of activity fr om all regions of the country. The scale of participation of both the diplomatic corps and the business community shows the importance of the event, which from year to year allows diplomats to learn first-hand about the issues that companies have in their business relations with the host country in order to use this information in their further work to promote Belarusian exports, while representatives of the business community have the opportunity to discuss various aspects and opportunities for the supply of goods or services, in particular, in the current conditions of strengthening sanctions against Belarus.

The B2D talks were preceded by a business briefing for the heads of foreign institutions. Addressing the audience were the Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mikhael Miatlikov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Igor Nazaruk, and Rector of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus Igor Buzovsky.

Addressing the heads of diplomatic missions, the Chairman of the BelCCI spoke about the main changes that have taken place since the last meeting, including the clear division of responsibilities and tasks between the three export support institutions – the BelCCI, the Centre for Marketing and Price Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Agency for Foreign Economic Activity, as well as about some aspects of forming the calendar of exhibition events abroad, especially in the "far arc" states which seem particularly promising for the Belarusian exports expansion. "The BelCCI is always ready for cooperation and constructive work with diplomatic missions on various issues of promoting Belarusian exports," Chairman Mikhael Miatlikov summarized.

Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Nazaruk noted that despite the fact that the sanctions pressure continues, Belarus' exports and trade turnover with the countries of the world, according to statistical data, is growing. It is an important task to maintain the trend until the end of the year and achieve the indicators set at the state level. Here the coordinated work of the Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic missions and export support organisations is important, aimed at promoting goods, building new optimal logistics chains and introducing payment mechanisms to ensure uninterrupted movement of goods, development of investment and technological activity, expansion of the country's export potential in today's difficult conditions.

Igor Nazaruk urged the heads of diplomatic missions to orient the business, turning to them, on the possibilities of the BelCCI tools, including arbitration, the availability of state support mechanism for obtaining certificates required for the supply of certain products, the effectiveness of exchange trading tools. "The conditions will not be easier, nevertheless we are adapting to them, reorienting the vectors of supply to those countries wh ere we are expected, restoring the authority and connections. And with your help it will be much more effective and easier. I wish you successful contacts from the event, because live communication is another level of interaction with business, an opportunity to discuss and solve many issues," Deputy Foreign Minister said.

Rector of the Academy of Public Administration Igor Buzovsky voiced a number of issues related to the annual seminar of heads of diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Belarus, within the framework of which the meeting is held at the BelCCI, noting that it is important to get feedback from business on the demand for this or that topic of communication with ambassadors. He also wished the participants successful work and effective negotiations.

Following the briefing, the bilateral B2D meetings of the heads of diplomatic missions of the Republic of Belarus with the heads of export oriented enterprises began. Prospects for cooperation in promoting goods and services, problematic issues of product sales in the countries of residence of the heads of Belarusian diplomatic missions, opportunities for diversifying export supplies, requirements for entering specific markets, building logistics chains, the most demanded and promising goods – these were just some of the issues discussed at the BelCCI during lively negotiations.

After negotiations with representatives of business circles, the diplomats visited the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange.

In addition, a special feature of this year's event was the participation of the heads of diplomatic and consular institutions of Belarus in the awards ceremony of the Best Exporter 2023 contest, which was held in the evening in Minsk's Dipservice Hall.