Interview by the Consul General of Belarus in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Ruslan Varankou, to the magazine «The Saigon Times Weekly» (October 14, 2023)

A Potential Gateway To ASEAN Market

Despite the absence of geographical proximity, the Vietnam - Belarus relationship presents an intriguing example of how nations with diverse backgrounds and interests can discover shared interests in an interconnected world.

The Saigon Times: Could you provide some background on the recent establishment of the Consulate General of Belarus in HCMC?

R.Varankou: Belarus established its first diplomatic mission in Vietnam here, in HCMC. In 1997, it was transformed into the Embassy of Belarus in Hanoi. There-fore, the recent establishment of a fully functional Consulate General of Belarus in HCMC represents a significant step.

The reasons behind this decision are quite evident.

Firstly, there are the long-standing friendly relations between Belarus and Vietnam, dating back to the Soviet period.

Secondly, HCMC’s economic growth in recent years has contributed up to 22% of Vietnam’s GDP, making it the most attractive spot for the development of economic cooperation.

Thirdly, the establishment of the Consulate General of Belarus in HCMC will provide the same level of attention to southern Vietnam, including trade, economic, and humanitarian interaction at both inter-regional and inter-state levels.

Fourthly, our presence can reduce the time for Belarusians residing in or visiting the south of Vietnam, as well as Vietnamese businesses cooperating with Belarusian counterparts when they want to access consular services in HCMC. Finally, after spending almost one year and a half in HCMC, I have really enjoyed the local vibrant culture, friendly people, and unique nature. Therefore, we could not resist the temptation of opening a Consulate General of Belarus in HCMC.

The Saigon Times: What specific goals does the Consulate General of Belarus in HCMC aim to achieve? How do these goals align with the broader diplomatic priorities of Belarus in the region?

R.Varankou: HCMC and the surrounding cities concentrate a vast number of industrial and economic zones, as well as businesses operating on a large scale. Our long-term goal is to contribute to the strengthening of links between various Belarusian and Vietnamese companies. We are also eager to raise aware-ness and offer the best of our products to Vietnamese consumers.

The decision to enlarge the diplomatic presence in Vietnam perfectly aligns with the multi-vector foreign policy of Belarus. We consider Asia, in general, as one of our key interest regions. It concentrates a lot of capital and investments, and the countries in the region import a wide range of products similar to those produced in Belarus. We see a niche here for the expansion of our trade turnover.

When it comes to political cooperation, Belarus is eager to cooperate with countries that share the same perspective in international relations. We con-sider Vietnam to be one of our priority partners in Asia and a potential gateway for our goods to the entire ASEAN market.

The Saigon Times:  With the establishment of the Consulate General in HCMC, what key initiatives or strategies do you foresee?

R.Varankou: We have various instruments at our disposal to develop bilateral relations, including the exchange of official and business delegations, mutual participation in exhibitions and fairs. For instance, we are expecting a visit from the Prime Minister of Belarus to Vietnam at the end of this year. If his schedule permits, he may consider a visit to HCMC. Such visits are always accompanied by major events in trade and economic relations.

We will also have a national booth at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre at Vietnam Expo 2023, allowing Belarusian companies to showcase their goods and services to their Vietnamese recipients.

One important issue I would like to raise is that the economies of Belarus and Vietnam are not in competition but rather complementary. Therefore, we can create more joint projects that will be beneficial for both parties. Belarus may provide effective solutions in heavy machinery, agriculture, food, IT, education, and medicine with a better price and better quality compared to our competitors.

The Saigon Times: Belarus is known for its expertise in certain industries, such as manufacturing and technology. How do you plan to leverage these strengths to foster economic partnerships with Vietnam, particularly in terms of technology transfer and industrial cooperation?

R.Varankou: The establishment of joint ventures is key, not only for the presence of Belarusian companies in Vietnam but also as a gateway to the entire ASEAN market. There could be no success without mutually beneficial contributions from both parties, including technology transfer. As a good example, I can mention “MAZ Asia,” which assembles Belarusian trucks in Vietnam. Having reached a certain level of localization, it will be able to export these trucks to the ASEAN market. I always carry with me a VND200 banknote depicting the Belarus tractor MTZ – a legendary tractor that contributed greatly to the development of rural areas in Vietnam.

The Saigon Times: Belarus is a major exporter of potash fertilizers. Could you provide an overview of the significance of potash exports to Belarus’s economy and its global position in the fertilizer market?

R.Varankou: The demand for potash continues to grow as the world’s population increases. Unfortunately, due to the life cycle of potash production, it is unlikely that any countries will be able to compensate for the volume of Belarusian potash withdrawn from the market due to restrictive measures. The decrease in global supply has also forced other global suppliers to raise prices for potash. There is still a lack of supply on global markets, resulting in higher prices for farmers and spikes in food prices.

Despite some price drops in 2023, the price for potash will remain significantly higher than in 2021. According to the World Bank, the price will return to US$475 per ton this year and US$425 per ton in 2024. In 2022, the price was US$221.

The Saigon Times: What are the current key challenges that Belarus is facing in producing fertilizer, and how do you overcome them to ensure the continued flow of Belarusian potash fertilizers to international markets?

R.Varankou: According to the UN World Food Programme, around 345 million people across 82 countries are now facing food insecurity, and around 50 million people across 45 countries are now at the brink of famine. The supply of potash fertilizers is essential for the preservation of food security. Potassium is one of the three crucial nutrients (along with nitrogen and phosphorus) necessary for maximizing crop yields. Half of the world’s population relies on fertilizers for their food supply, and removing fertilizers from fields could significantly reduce crop yields, with some crops experiencing yield reductions of up to 50%.

We believe that achieving global food security is a task for all countries, so we appeal to the International Community to lift the illegally imposed bans and restrictions on Belarusian potash fertilizers and to restore the unhindered transit of Belarusian fertilizers to global markets, such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America.