Uzbek businesses are planning to purchase farms in the Vitsyebsk region. These plans were announced in early March during a visit to Belarus by a delegation from Uzbekistan. The businesspeople from the Central Asian country met with Belarusian Prime Minister Alyaksandr Turchyn. Details of the agreements reached have now emerged.
In early March, the Belarusian government press service said that the purpose of the visit was to open an Uzbekistan trade house and an Uzbek cuisine restaurant in Minsk, as well as the creation of Uzbek agricultural enterprises in Belarus. At that time, following the meeting, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan Davron Vakhabov said that Uzbek entrepreneurs had visited three districts in the Vitsyebsk region.
In the second half of March, Vakhabov met with the leadership of the Kashkadarya region and interested businesspeople. Following the meeting, it was reported that an agreement had been reached with the Belarusian side on the possibility of purchasing farms of up to 9,000 hectares at auction in the Ushachy, Hlybokaye and Sharkaushchyna districts of the Vitsyebsk region. A discount of up to 90% was also mentioned. This likely refers to the starting auction price. Belarusian regulations allow for the reduction of the initial price when selling share packages or property complexes if no buyer was found in previous rounds.
At the same time, Davron Vakhabov announced a new trip by Uzbek entrepreneurs to Belarus to inspect the proposed farms and assess them on site.
Last week, Dunyo reported on the “productive working visit” of the Kashkadarya region delegation.
Uzbek businesspeople studied the operation of livestock complexes and retail facilities in the Braslau, Shumilina, Pastavy and other districts. A meeting was also held with the leadership of the Vitsyebsk regional executive committee.
The most important outcome of the visit was described as “the achievement of an agreement between the enterprises Asl Yuksalish Savdo, Muborak qorako‘lchilik and the Sirotinsky livestock farm located in Shumilina district”. Under the agreement, the Uzbek side will take 4,000 hectares of farmland on a long-term lease. A large-scale project is planned on this site, with the first stage involving the raising of 1,000 head of cattle.
It should be noted that there is indeed a municipal unitary agricultural enterprise called Sirotinsky in Shumilina district. Since last year, it has been in the process of liquidation.
At the same time, a contract was signed between Asl Yuksalish Savdo and the Belarusian retail chain Dobronom. The document provides for annual deliveries from Uzbekistan to Belarus of up to 60,000 tonnes of agricultural products, including dried fruit, legumes, melons and grapes.
In mid-March, Belarusian media reported on a meeting between Uzbek entrepreneurs and the leadership of the Vitsyebsk region. At that time, discussions focused on the prospects for creating beef production enterprises in the Vitsyebsk region. The Uzbek side expressed interest in Hlybokaye district. It was reported that at the initial stage, the plan is to raise 1,000 head of cattle, with the prospect of increasing this to 10,000 head.
A Belarus-Uzbekistan regional forum is planned in Minsk in June this year. Yesterday, the INNOPROM. Central Asia exhibition opened in Tashkent, featuring Belarusian enterprises. Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Viktar Karankevich visited in connection with the exhibition. He held a number of meetings and talks. Work is currently nearing completion on a cooperation plan between the two countries for 2026-2030.
