Golovchenko: Belarus exploring possibilities of industrial co-operation with Pakistan
Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko held a meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on October 15th and outlined Belarus’ interest in the implementation of joint industrial projects
“In Belarus, we are very closely monitoring the development of Pakistan and the implementation of ambitious large-scale projects. We know how much attention you personally, Mr. Prime Minister, pay to the progress of the country, how much effort you are making to develop agriculture and industry, diversify the economy, improve the living environment, develop public transport, and so on," Mr. Golovchenko addressed his Pakistani counterpart.
Belarus’ PM stressed that he would like to use the opportunity of the meeting in order to identify issues that require additional attention from governments on the agenda of bilateral co-operation, “Of course, one of the key priorities in the development of the Belarusian economy is industrial development, in particular mechanical engineering. Industry accounts for about 40 percent of the country's total GDP. Of course, we are exploring with great interest the possibilities of co-operation with Pakistan in the field of joint industrial projects, and production of agricultural machinery, including supplies directly from Belarus and possible launch of such facilities in Pakistan, is among the most promising ones.”
Islamabad is hosting the 23rd meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation today. The event is scheduled to be attended by the PMs of Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the First Vice President of Iran and the High Representative of India. As reported by TASS, the meeting participants will consider the state and prospects for the development of trade and economic co-operation in the context of the comprehensive modernisation of the SCO's activities in accordance with new geopolitical realities.
Belarus has been a SCO dialogue partner since 2010, and it has the status of an observer since 2015. In 2024, the country has become a SCO member: the accession procedure was completed at the Astana summit on July 4th.
The republic’s interest in the SCO full membership is clear: during speeches at SCO summits, Head of State Aleksandr Lukashenko focused on the organisation's potential in stimulating trade and economic co-operation through industrial and technological liaisons, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, green economy, and so on. Belarus is interested in the development of the SCO common transport space, international road transportation, as well as in the co-ordinated development of highways and rail transport.
Moreover, Belarus views the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation as an important international platform for working out specific mechanisms for developing co-operation in countering the threats of terrorism, extremism and organised crime, and it advocates strengthening the economic dimension of SCO as the most important factor of stability in the Eurasian region.
