Belarus, Pakistan to sign comprehensive co-operation roadmap until 2027
Belarus and Pakistan plan to sign a roadmap of comprehensive co-operation for the period up to 2027 – as informed by Belarus’ Energy Minister, co-chairman of the Belarusian-Pakistani intergovernmental commission on trade and economic co-operation Aleksei Kushnarenko, on the side-lines of the Belarusian-Pakistani business forum in Islamabad
In particular, Mr. Kushnarenko stressed that relations between Belarus and Pakistan are actively developing, and the level of recent events is proof of this. He recalled that the seventh meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic co-operation was held in Islamabad in September. In October, Belarus’ Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko visited Pakistan, and the official visit of President Aleksandr Lukashenko to this country has begun today.
As noted by the Energy Minister, a business forum is being held in Islamabad ahead of the summit talks, “The activity is very high. The forum has gathered representatives of over 250 different companies, commercial contracts and memoranda are planned for signing. We are pleased to note that the trade turnover between our countries is growing and it has already reached $34m with an increase of 3.7 percent. At the same time, we understand that this is far from the limit. Therefore, during the visit, we plan to sign a roadmap on comprehensive co-operation for the period up to 2027. We see tremendous mutual interest in various areas – such as industry, agriculture, education, pharmacology, and others. Both sides have competencies that they are willing to share.”
Mr. Kushnarenko stressed that bilateral relations are based on the relationship between heads of state and government, but business is also active. “The roadmap planned for signing should give an impetus to the intensification of this co-operation,” he said.
According to the Energy Minister, China and other neighbouring countries are among Belarus’ competitors in Pakistan. “At the same time, the level of our competencies, the level of development of industry and agriculture allow us to compete on an equal footing with the main importers to Pakistan,” he explained.
Mr. Kushnarenko added that Belarus also has its own interests in Pakistan, “In particular, light industry is very well developed here. There are also supplies of food and fruits to our country. Pharmacology has been developing actively. These are also the points of growth that need to be discussed and developed. There are specific intentions of Belarusian manufacturers to establish assembly plants for agricultural and cargo vehicles. These can be multifunctional centres or assembly plants, and the Pakistani side is demonstrating a tremendous interest in this sphere. I think relevant contracts and agreements will be signed as a result of the forum, since Belarusian machinery already takes the lion's share of Pakistani exports.”
