The President of Belarus's work schedule is always packed with events. Alexander Lukashenko holds meetings and working sessions on the most pressing issues of the country's development, regularly visits regions, makes foreign trips, and receives foreign guests himself, communicates with journalists, and signs decrees and laws. And even when there are no public events, it does not mean that the head of state is not working. However, even during his leisure time, whether it's a hockey practice or chopping wood, Alexander Lukashenko always finds an opportunity for another assignment. As he likes to say, everything should be driven by life.

The "President's Week" project is for those who want to keep pace with the head of state, stay informed about the most relevant statements and decisions of the Belarusian leader.

The entire week, like most of the previous one, Alexander Lukashenko spent abroad as part of a major presidential business trip. Following his visit to Kyrgyzstan for the CSTO summit (where he also held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin), as well as an official visit to Myanmar, the main points on the President's work schedule were Oman and Algeria.

A busy bilateral agenda, high-level negotiations and more, discussion of the progress of previous agreements and new promising projects – all this filled each of the past days. At the same time, the main principle in the approach of the President of Belarus is that cooperation must be mutually beneficial. Immediately after the negotiations, Alexander Lukashenko would hold brief operational meetings on his feet with specific instructions to the members of the Belarusian delegation.

Furthermore, the Head of State constantly demands to keep up the pace. This applies not only to delegation members but also to responsible officials who observed the events while in Belarus. Everything agreed upon must be implemented quickly and without any bureaucratic delays. It is a time when one must not just walk, but run, as Alexander Lukashenko often says. That is precisely why he demands maximally intensive and prompt work from everyone.

Congratulatory messages on various occasions were sent abroad this week to Romania, Laos, the UAE, Thailand, Finland, and Kyrgyzstan.

Alexander Lukashenko congratulated the staff of the Belarusian State Technological University and OJSC "Zavod "Legmash" on their significant dates.

THE GATES ARE OPEN. What projects are on the agenda for cooperation with Oman
During a major foreign trip, Alexander Lukashenko visited Oman twice. First, between official visits to Myanmar and Algeria, and then the Head of State's working program continued again in Oman.

Cooperation between the two countries has significantly intensified recently, partly due to the exchange of visits that took place earlier. Promising areas of cooperation, identified during Alexander Lukashenko's visit to Muscat in 2024, have been developed and formed the basis of a comprehensive roadmap signed in Minsk during the visit of the Sultan of Oman in October 2025.

The current visit of the President of Belarus to Oman provided an opportunity to discuss in detail practical steps for developing previously reached agreements and to discuss the implementation of new promising joint projects.

Alexander Lukashenko held talks with the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tarik Al Said, in Muscat on December 1. The leaders discussed the progress of key projects and exchanged views on the situation in the region and on the international arena. When discussing the implementation of the cooperation roadmap, emphasis was placed on specific projects in the field of food security and industry. One of the largest investment projects on the bilateral agenda is the construction of a pulp and paper mill in Belarus. Its implementation is estimated to cost over $1 billion.

The heads of state also separately focused on the development of cooperation in the agricultural sector. In particular, the discussion concerned the supply of Belarusian food products and the creation of joint ventures in Belarus.

Opportunities for joint work to develop mutually beneficial export supplies of products, including to the markets of Asian and African countries, were also discussed. Earlier, an agreement was reached on the actual creation of a hub for Belarusian products in Oman, in order to jointly promote goods by leveraging Oman's trading expertise and strong ties with the countries of the region.

The development of cooperation in the tourism sector was also on the agenda of the talks, as it is of mutual interest.

Many countries in the Middle East have a tradition where leaders' talks are held without formal statements to the media. Alexander Lukashenko elaborated on all the issues raised in detail on December 5, during a meeting with the President of the Oman Investment Authority, Abdulsalam Mohammed Al Murshidi, in the presence of television cameras.

Among the participants of the meeting were also the General Director of Oman Food Capital Holding (a subsidiary of the Oman Investment Authority focused on agricultural and food investments), Abdalla Al Rashdi, as well as the agency's representative Ali Al Farsi, who oversees cooperation with Belarus.

The President was shown a detailed presentation on the progress of the Belarus-Oman cooperation roadmap, with specifics on projects and timelines.

"We have defined the strategy of our cooperation. The gates are open. We need to delve deeper into these projects as we agreed," the President stated.

On the Joint Investment Fund

Alexander Lukashenko noted that the parties had agreed to establish a joint Belarusian-Oman investment fund in Minsk, which would finance projects in Belarus.

The fund will focus on developing investment projects in the fields of industry, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and food, as well as in other sectors.

"Such a flagship, as we call it, an anchor project is the construction of a pulp and paper mill in Belarus. We have the experience and expertise. Our wood processing industry is highly developed," the President said.

He expressed confidence that there should be no major problems with this project. Pre-investment and design work are currently underway, and the site has been identified.

On a Hub in Oman for Trading Belarusian Products

"You have probably already become convinced that we have learned to produce almost everything needed in this region – the far arc region, as we define it in foreign policy – in Belarus. But I honestly admit that we are significantly worse than our Omani colleagues at trading. Moreover, you have huge opportunities in this region," the President said. "Especially in the East African region. You have very good relations with those African states where our positions are not so strong."

Alexander Lukashenko noted that in this regard, a decision was made, and the Omani side provided support for the creation of a Belarusian hub in Oman – a goods transshipment center. They will be supplied both to the Middle East region and a number of others, including Southeast Asia and Myanmar, which the President of Belarus also recently visited on an official visit, and ending with African countries.

"There are already certain developments in this direction. And not just certain, but, probably, we have covered half the way. We are already supplying some goods here for further re-export to the markets that I have just outlined," the Belarusian leader noted.

On cooperation in the agro-industrial complex and food supplies

Alexander Lukashenko drew attention to the fact that in the near future, interest in this topic, especially in the region where Oman is located, will only grow. Food products, he is confident, will be in increasing demand.

"This is something we can easily trade. And today, we are not just exchanging agricultural products. That is, what you have and we need – you supply to us; what we can, and you need it – we supply to you, in particular, dairy and meat products. We agreed that, having tried all this, you are ready to expand cooperation. Therefore, the exchange of goods is already underway. But this is a very serious topic for us. And we are grateful to you for supporting us," the head of state said.

Alexander Lukashenko also noted the need to expand production volumes and work directly. "We are ready for you to work directly with our agricultural enterprises and processing plants in Belarus for processing and supplying food products here (to Oman. – Ed. BELTA)," he said.

On the Belarusian oasis in Oman

The President stated that a very important area is the development of Oman as a tourist destination for Belarusian citizens.

"You know that we are a northern country. Many Belarusians travel the world in search of a better vacation spot. We would very much like to have our own Belarusian tourist cluster here, near the airport, so that our people can diversify their tourist trips," the President said. "I am very grateful to you and my friend Sultan for allocating a huge plot of land for us in an exotic location, not typical for Oman. Where there are almost no sands and mountains, but there is a real oasis, where the air temperature is also acceptable for our people. We would like to build there, together with you and our investors who will be interested in this, such a tourist hub where our people will go."

Alexander Lukashenko stated that the parties have already made progress in this direction. Direct flights from Belarus to Oman have recently launched.

"We are ready to expand travel for our people here. Not only to the Emirates, other countries, but also to Oman. There is fabulous nature here, an open ocean. I am confident that our people will gladly take advantage of this tourist destination," the head of state declared.

About the "three-party" project for the production of complex fertilizers

Alexander Lukashenko said that during his official visits and negotiations, particularly in Algeria, many areas of joint work have opened up. One of them is the production of complex NPK fertilizers. These are complex mineral fertilizers containing three main macronutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).

"Our Algerian friends are very interested in this. As you know, Algeria has huge gas reserves. This means we will be able to produce nitrogen fertilizers. We know how to do this, we have a large plant of this kind in Grodno," the head of state noted. "As the President of Algeria told me, in the near future they will be able to produce 10.5 million tons of phosphates. This is a line for the production of phosphate fertilizers. We have a corresponding company, a huge plant that produces similar fertilizers. We know how to do this. In addition to nitrogen fertilizers, we produce phosphate fertilizers."

Finally, Alexander Lukashenko continued, Belarus is one of the main producers of potash fertilizers.

"To mix these three types of fertilizers in one granule is what the market needs today. We also know how to do this. Why not create an enterprise, in which we can invest together with you and Algeria, if it is in Algeria," the head of state suggested.

The President emphasized that without ensuring fertilizers, there can be no talk of food security in the countries of Africa and the Global South. "The demand for mineral fertilizers is growing and will continue to grow in the world. Because food is needed," he said.

TARGETING HALF A BILLION. How Lukashenko sees Belarusian pragmatism in cooperation with Algeria

The President of Belarus paid an official visit to Algeria for the first time on December 2-3. This country on the far arc for Belarus is largely new and poorly developed in terms of establishing partnership contacts. Nevertheless, work here has to start not from scratch.

Algeria still warmly recalls cooperation with the Soviet Union, when specialists from Belarus, among others, helped the country establish itself after liberation from French colonial oppression. There were also certain contacts during the sovereign period. Therefore, both Alexander Lukashenko and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune agreed that the cooperation is being elevated to a new, higher level.

The two-day visit of the head of the Belarusian state was filled with various events. At the airport, the head of state was met at the ramp by the Chairman of the Council of the Nation of the Algerian People's Democratic Republic, Nasseri Azouz.

Immediately upon arrival, the President held meetings with the Speaker of the National People's Assembly, Ibrahim Bougali, and the Prime Minister of Algeria, Sifi Grib.

"I understand very well what Algeria means for Africa. We cooperate with many countries on the African continent. Because Africa has the future," emphasized the Belarusian leader.
On the second day of the visit, the head of state laid a wreath at the "Monument to Glory and Martyrdom" memorial complex and visited the National Museum of Martyrs (El-Mujahid Museum).

Finally, the main item on the agenda of the official visit was negotiations with the President of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune. They took place at the "El Mouradia" palace.

Following the meeting, the heads of state signed a joint statement on strengthening friendly relations and partnership between Belarus and Algeria. In the presence of the leaders of the countries, a number of documents were signed, the most important of which is a roadmap for the development of cooperation between Belarus and Algeria for the period 2026-2027.

It is important to note that a joint business forum was also held in Algeria on the eve, with the participation of over a hundred representatives of various enterprises and organizations, and commercial agreements were reached.

Alexander Lukashenko, in his statement following the negotiations, set a very ambitious goal for the development of cooperation with Algeria in the coming year or two: "Last year, we achieved a trade turnover of $50 million. For the potential that Algeria and we possess, this is a ridiculous figure. We must, within the next year or two (we agreed on this with the President), reach a trade turnover of at least half a billion dollars."

"Algeria is a global gateway to Africa. This is our pragmatism. And I told my friend and comrade, the President of Algeria, about this. We have discussed many things. There are absolutely no closed topics. This includes not only humanitarian issues and agriculture but also the military-industrial complex," the Belarusian leader emphasized. "We are ready to share our technologies with you. To supply equipment under these technologies and jointly produce corresponding machinery. And to train your people in these technologies, if necessary."

Alexander Lukashenko listed a number of areas where Belarus and Algeria have mutual interest. These include the construction of joint ventures for the production of tractors and automobiles; repair, cooperation in the military-industrial complex; meeting Algeria's needs for agricultural machinery and the transfer of agricultural technologies; joint work in addressing food security issues, especially in terms of supplying and producing dairy and meat products.

The President proposed implementing one of the largest projects jointly with Oman. It concerns the production of complex fertilizers, given that Algeria has the necessary raw materials for this. This primarily refers to nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, while Belarus, in turn, possesses the necessary technological experience and one of the world's largest potash ore reserves.

"What pleasantly surprised me is that the President of Algeria has excellent relations with the Sultan of Oman and that state. They cooperate very closely. These are our friends. The Sultan of Oman and I have known each other for 20 years. And, as many have noticed, we have good relations," said the head of state. "A very interesting topic has emerged. We can build an enterprise together, as I told the President. By investing, we can build an enterprise using well-known technologies. To produce a huge amount of mineral fertilizers, which are needed both in Algeria and in this region, especially in Africa."

Alexander Lukashenko invited representatives of Algeria to visit Belarus to study all available opportunities: "The doors are open for Algerians as our reliable, good friends. If something suits you and you like it, we are ready to cooperate and work with you. But not like the colonialists once did. We are ready to cooperate as friends, as close people."

"A huge country with immense potential. There is work to be done here. We have agreed on many things. And this is not the beginning. We are taking our relations to a higher level. And we will do much more in the future," the Belarusian leader is confident.

Later, while in Oman, Alexander Lukashenko highly praised the negotiations held in Algeria and the President of that country, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, personally: "A very thorough, intelligent, experienced person. I liked him very much. Absolutely down-to-earth."

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