Pakistan & Belarus Enter In A New Era

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. As part of the former Soviet Union, Belarus had a relatively well developed industrial base; it retained this industrial base following the break-up of the USSR. The country also has a broad agricultural base and a high education level. Among the former republics of the Soviet Union, it had one of the highest standards of living. 

Pakistan was one of the first countries to accept Belarus after the denigration of Soviet Union in 1991. Pakistan and Belarus hold historic relations since then. Both countries have inked a number of agreements and Memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen their multifaceted ties particularly in the areas of trade, commerce, education and culture. 

To cement the bilateral Mr. Andrei Kobyakov , Prime Minister of Belarus  paid a visit to Pakistan. Both the countries inked 18 accords of cooperation in diverse fields including the joint launch of two Roadmaps on economic and humanitarian cooperation. Both the sides also signed seven agreements, six Memoranda of Understanding and three Protocols to Agreements related to collaboration and cooperation in trade, economy, industry, agriculture, agricultural research, investment, science and technology, textile, healthcare and pharmaceuticals. 

Prime Minister Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and his Belarusian counterpart Andrey Kobyakov held a one-on-one meeting and discussed issues of bilateral interest with particular focus on enhancing cooperation in trade, defence and culture. The two Prime Ministers agreed on strengthening ties at the governmental and people-to-people levels for the mutual benefit of their countries. The two sides discussed a whole range of issues including cooperation in defence and defence production, counter-terrorism and narcotics control.

Prime Minsters Sharif and Kobyakov signed documents titled “Roadmap for fast-track and middle-track economic cooperation between Pakistan and Belarus”. The Federal Minister for Information of Pakistan and Deputy Affairs Minister of Belarus signed the documents called “Roadmap of Belarusian-Pakistani Humanitarian Cooperation year 2015-2020”

The inter-governmental Agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters was signed by Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Belarus Valentin Rybakov. The Agreement between the Health Ministries of Pakistan and Belarus on cooperation in public health was also signed. The agreements on cooperation among the Government of Punjab and the Minsk region, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry(KCCI) and the Breast Branch of Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and IndustryBCCI), the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Mogilev Branch of Belarusian Chamber and Industry(BCCI) was also inked. Besides these agreements, Pakistani and Belarusian companies were also singed 13 MoUs and agreements in different sectors to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

The Protocols to the Agreement on mutual cooperation between the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (Pakistan) and Ministry of Education (Belarus) in the field of education was signed by State Minister for Education of both countries. The Cooperation Protocol between the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad and the Belarusian State University, Minsk and the Protocol on cooperation between the Government of Balochistan and the Breast Regional committee, Belarus were also inked.

Both countries decided to enhance their area of cooperation in future. Pakistan invited the Belarusian investors to invest in Pakistan in all sectors of economy, especially in agriculture machinery, pharmaceutical, mining, leather. Agriculture and food industry for joint ventures with local partners and work for investment and trade development, which are most beneficial for both of the countries. Pakistani companies are also interested in establishing business ties with Belarusian companies in different sectors like agriculture, machinery, and tractors, chemical. Textile, glass and crystal products, and mechanical engineering.