MINSK, November 7. /TASS/. Belarus’ exports to African countries have grown four times in 2024 compared to 2023 and there is a chance they will exceed $1 bln in 2025, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Belarus Andrey Kartun said.

"We have grown fourfold in Africa against the results of 2023. I think that this year, and if not this year, then in the first half of next year, we have every chance to reach record export figures and exceed $1 bln," Kartun was quoted by the BelTA news agency.

According to Kartun, since 2022, most industrial companies have successfully diversified their export portfolio amid sanctions. "For example, we have now even mastered the African market, which is new for us. We were practically not represented there. Imagine, the annual GDP of this market is several trillion dollars, and imports from these countries are growing. The potential is huge here," he noted.

Kartun noted that with the introduction of unprecedented sanctions by unfriendly countries in 2022, Belarus faced challenges, including a certain decline in GDP by around 5%. According to him, previously a third of Belarusian exports came from the European Union, so the decline could have been even greater, but the Belarusian economy did not collapse, the country was able to refocus to new markets and started a sustainable economic recovery.

It was reported earlier that Belarusian exports to African countries in the first eight months of 2024 amounted to $497 mln.