GOODWILL PROTOCOL SIGNED BETWEEN ATO AND THE MINSK BRANCH OF THE BELARUSIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY TO ENHANCE COMMERCIAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS

GÜRSEL BARAN: "WE AIM TO ESTABLISH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS BY COMBINING THE INDUSTRIAL KNOW-HOW AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OF OUR TWO COUNTRIES."

3 December 2025 – Gürsel Baran, Chairman of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO), recalled that the trade volume between Türkiye and Belarus reached USD 1.85 billion as of the end of 2024, stating, "This figure does not fully reflect the depth of dialogue and the potential between our two countries. By bringing together our industrial expertise and competitive advantages, we aim to establish strong and sustainable partnerships."

The "Ankara–Minsk Business Forum," organized jointly by the Ankara Chamber of Commerce and the Minsk Branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to enhance trade and investment relations between Ankara and Minsk, was held at the ATO Duatepe Hall.

Within the framework of the forum, attended by Gürsel Baran, Chairman of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce; Anatoly Glaz, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Türkiye; and officials of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a Goodwill Protocol was signed between ATO and the Minsk Branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to foster commercial and economic cooperation.

The Protocol was signed on behalf of ATO by Gürsel Baran, Chairman of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, and on behalf of the Minsk Branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry by Deputy Director General Irina Ivanova.

NEW TRADE BRIDGES BETWEEN ANKARA AND MINSK

In his address, Chairman Baran stated that the Protocol constitutes a significant step toward strengthening commercial and economic relations not only between Ankara and Minsk, but also between Türkiye and Belarus.

"The Protocol encompasses cooperation across a broad spectrum—from reciprocal business delegation visits and participation in trade fairs to B2B meetings, as well as joint production and investment opportunities. We believe this collaboration will establish new trade bridges between our business communities, reinforce our friendship through economic achievements, and elevate Türkiye–Belarus trade to much higher levels," he said.

Baran emphasized that trade relations between the two countries have steadily progressed over the years, reaching USD 1.85 billion by the end of 2024. However, he underlined that this figure remains below the full potential of bilateral dialogue and economic capacity.

"We are confident that through joint initiatives undertaken by our business communities, this potential will rapidly translate into higher trade volumes. By diversifying economic cooperation, creating new investment areas, and strengthening trade-facilitating mechanisms, we can further consolidate our economic partnership. Our objective is to bring together the industrial know-how and competitive strengths of both countries to realize robust and long-term collaborations," he stated.

SECTORAL AND LOGISTICAL ADVANTAGES STRENGTHEN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Chairman Baran highlighted the significant investment opportunities available between the two countries. He noted that Turkish companies have considerable prospects in Belarus, particularly within free economic zones and joint production models. Similarly, he observed that Belarusian business representatives may benefit from investment opportunities in Türkiye's organized industrial zones, renewable energy projects, and the fields of food production and agricultural technologies.

He further stated that joint production structures could be established particularly in the sectors of machinery, defense, medical devices, and automotive sub-industry. Referring to Türkiye's strategic role within the Middle Corridor and Belarus's connections to the Eurasian Economic Union, Baran underlined that these complementary advantages create new avenues for cooperation.

Providing an overview of Ankara's economic profile, Baran remarked:

"Beyond its status as the capital, Ankara serves as a major hub for the defense industry, health technologies, information technologies, and high value-added production."

COMPLEMENTARY ECONOMIC STRUCTURES

Ambassador of Belarus to Türkiye, Anatoly Glaz, stated in his remarks that the trade volume between Türkiye and Belarus surpasses that of many other countries with which Belarus maintains commercial relations. He emphasized that the economic structures of the two countries are complementary in nature.

Deputy Director General of the Minsk Branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Irina Ivanova, highlighted the long-standing friendship and strategic cooperation between Türkiye and Belarus. She provided information on Belarus's investment and trade potential, drawing attention to the country's advantages in terms of access to European markets.

The forum was attended by ATO Vice President of the Assembly Ali İhsan Özdemir; Board Members Ali İhsan Güçlü and Yasin Özyolu; Chair of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Committee Metin Demir; Chair of the Carpet, Furniture, Manufacturing and Decoration Committee Murat Kopan; Committee Member Saadettin Ensoy; Assembly Member of the Animal Production Committee Ülkü Karakuş; Assembly Member of the Hardware Retailers Committee Sıtkı Öztuna; ATO Secretary General Ahmet Güran; and Deputy Secretaries General Abdurrahman Karabudak and İbrahim Tırpancı.

The forum continued with bilateral B2B meetings between representatives of the business communities of the two countries.