Says Amb. Andrew Chernetsky of Belarus in Seoul at an interview
“Belarus can help Korean small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reduce production expenses due to lower labor costs, reasonable energy and raw materials prices,” said Amb. Andrew Chernetsky of Belarus in Seoul.
In an interview with The Korea Post media, publisher of 3 English and 2 Korean language news publications since 1985, Amb. Andrew Chernetsky said, “SMEs of the Republic of Korea are showing their interest in cooperation with Belarusian companies in agro-industrial complex, mechanical engineering, petrochemical industry and fertilizers.”
The following is the full-text of the interview with Amb. Chernetsky.
Question: Please let us know the significance of your Independence Day, July 3.
Answer: The celebration date of the National Day of the Republic of Belarus was not chosen by chance. On this day, 79 years ago, the capital of Belarus - the Minsk city - was liberated from Nazi invaders. In that terrible war, every third inhabitant of Belarus died. The memory about those horrible times continues to live in the generations of Belarusian people. Like Republic of Korea, we know the price of freedom. Both our countries have seen the terrible consequences of war and don’t want it happen again.
Q: Please introduce major industries and products of Belarus.
A: The structure of Belarussian economy is quite diverse. It includes most industries that allow the state to be self-sufficient in terms of providing itself with everything necessary and organizing successful export deliveries. Over the last years, the main component of Belarusian exports to the Republic of Korea were microchips. Belarus is also known for optoelectronics products, including optical cameras for space research industry, laser equipment for medical purposes. Our country is also famous for its products of machine-building industry, which produces equipment for agriculture and the mining industry. Among them are Belarus tractors and BelAZ mining dump trucks with a payload capacity of up to 450 tons. It could be interesting for Korean audience to know that a native of Korea, an eminent Belarusian scientist, professor Aleksey Kharitonovich Kim, stood at the origins of the Belarusian machine building industry. He came to Belarus in the 40s of the last century and for a long time was the dean of the faculty of the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute. He was awarded the honorary title "Honored Machine Builder of the Belarus".
Q: Which industrial sectors in Belarus would be the most attractive to Korean potential investors?
A: For South Korea SME’s, cooperation with Belarusian partners can help reduce production expenses due to lower labor costs, reasonable energy and raw materials prices. Small and medium-sized enterprises of the Republic of Korea are showing their interest in cooperation with Belarusian companies in agro-industrial complex, mechanical engineering, petrochemical industry and fertilizers.
The global economy is going through difficult times right now. Many countries have already felt the direct negative consequences in the form of falling exports, rising prices for raw materials and energy. Belarus has free trade agreements with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, which includes Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Russia. The EAEU ensures the freedom of movement of goods, services, capital and labor, as well as the implementation of a single economic policy.
The EAEU and its Member States themselves concluded a number of FTA’s, including Vietnam, and a Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement with China. Against the backdrop of a slowdown in world trade and investment foreign trade turnover between EAEU and China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Cuba is increased. Trade with the SCO, BRICS, ASEAN in 2022 grew by 35% and exceeded a third of the total trade turnover of the EAEU.
In this regard, I want to emphasize that the organization of production in Belarus would allow not only to reduce the cost of the final product, but also to get preferential access to the markets of Russia and other countries of the EAEC - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia.
In my opinion, quite a lot of potential hides in increasing export of Korean food products to Belarus, which is very popular in my country. I am sure that it would be successful to open a network of Korean restaurants in Belarussian cities, especially Korean chicken, given the large number of poultry farms in Belarus. There are a good prospects in supplying products from ginseng, seaweed, soy bean paste, for cooperation in food processing and packing industry.
Q: Please introduce successful Korean companies in Belarus.
A: Products from Republic of Korea are quite popular in Belarus. Almost the entire range of Korean goods is widely represented on the Belarusian market - from smartphones to passenger cars. I would also like to point out that against the backdrop of a difficult global economic situation, we note the growth of South Korean exports to the Republic of Belarus. In this regard, it would be fair to say that any Korean company operating in the Belarusian market is quite successful in its activities. I know histories of such a success in the sphere of Korean cosmetics, IT sphere.
Q: Please introduce tourists’ attractions of Belarus for Korean
tourists abroad.
A: There is a famous proverb: “Still waters run deep”. It especially applies tо Belarus which is often called a hidden gem in Eastern Europe. The country full of undiscovered sights and still managed to hide so many secrets that we might need next 100 years to uncover them all.
Belarus is very unique by its nature. Sometimes it is called “a blue-eyed country”. There are about 11,000 lakes in Belarus and more than 20,800 rivers and streams with a total length of 90,600 kilometers. It is twice as long as the equator.
On the territory of Belarus there are a number of objects included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Among them the most ancient forest in Europe– Belovezhskaya Pushcha with its unique flora and fauna. Ancient castles, numerous monuments of medieval architecture and culture creates an unforgettable atmosphere for everyone visiting the country to enjoy its beauty and attractive history closely linked to the East European heritage.
In an effort to provide the people of South Korea with the opportunity to get acquainted with the unique heritage of the Medieval castle culture of the Eastern European region, the Embassy has organized the exhibition “Castles of Belarus” during the National day Celebration. We intend to arrange such exhibition not only in Seoul, but also in other cities of the Republic of Korea.
Q: Please let us know your point of view on how to strengthen further the economic ties between Belarus and Korea in the years to come.
A: Nowadays the international community has witnessed numerous problems in logistics, energy and food supplies. The whole world is trying to find solutions for issues on the global agenda. Among them are the fight against climate change, the promotion of sustainable development of problem regions, the achievement of food security. I would very much like cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Korea to contribute to this matter as well. And I strongly believe that such an approach based on finding points for partnership rather than building economic and other barriers could bring much more benefits to all.