Maputo, July 17, 2026 (Lusa) - The Mozambican Minister of Agriculture stated on Friday that the country and Belarus are set to step up cooperation on agricultural mechanisation in Mozambique, following the identification of a financing solution that will enable projects aimed primarily at the smallholder sector to go ahead.
“This visit has yielded the financial solution which means that, from now on, technical teams from Mozambique and Belarus will work together to submit the proposal to the Belarusian Development Bank,” said the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, Roberto Albino, following talks with the Belarusian minister of foreign affairs, Maxim Ryzhenkov, in Maputo.
According to the Mozambican minister, agricultural mechanisation is the main focus of cooperation between the two countries, following a visit by a Mozambican delegation to Belarus around a year ago.
“We have identified that Mozambique needs an intermediate phase of mechanisation, moving from the short-handled hoe to the large tractor. There is plenty of scope to mechanise agriculture, particularly in the family farming sector,” he said.
Roberto Albino added that technical teams from both countries have already been set up to prepare the funding package, to be followed by the stages of negotiating the agreements and implementing the projects.
“We have not set any deadlines, but we have agreed that both sides will do everything possible to speed up this process, so that we can implement the project as urgently as possible,” he said.
For his part, the Belarusian minister of foreign affairs stated that Minsk intends to give new impetus to bilateral relations with Mozambique, putting the country’s expertise and technology at the service of the African nation’s agricultural development.
“The Belarusian side, with its technical expertise, experience and skills, is willing to participate in Mozambique’s Agricultural Sector Mechanisation Programme, which will help ensure the country’s food security and expand bilateral cooperation in other areas,” declared Maxim Ryzhenkov.
The head of Belarusian diplomacy added that his country is willing to supply the Mozambican market with agricultural products, including poultry, milk powder, butter and baby food, whilst also expressing interest in importing products such as nuts, tea, tobacco and seafood from Mozambique.
According to Ryzhenkov, the talks also addressed the resumption of the Joint Bilateral Commission and the establishment of a trilateral cooperation framework between Belarus, Mozambique and Zimbabwe for the implementation of joint economic projects.
“We are convinced of the need to resume [the Joint Bilateral Commission] as soon as possible,” he said, adding that the three countries should coordinate their efforts to identify priority areas for cooperation.
During the meeting, the two governments also agreed to speed up the organisation of the 4th Joint Commission between Mozambique and Belarus, to be held later this year, as well as to deepen economic and diplomatic cooperation, and cooperation in the areas of defence and security and in attracting investment.
Maxim Ryzhenkov is on an official visit to Mozambique from Thursday until Saturday, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
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