Minsk, 26 November 2021 (TDI): On November 25, 2021, Ambassador of Pakistan to the Republic of Belarus, Sajjad Haider Khan met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Nikolai Borisevich.
The two sides discussed the development of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Khan and Borisevich also discussed topical issues of the functioning of the Pakistani diplomatic mission in Minsk.
The Belarusian dignitary informed Pakistan Ambassador about the development of the situation with migrants on the western border of Belarus. Borisevich also mentioned to the Ambassador the approaches undertaken by Belarus for its resolution.
The Deputy Minister also expressed Khan about the transparency and readiness of the Belarusian side for dialogue and cooperation with all interested parties, including international organizations.
PAKISTAN-BELARUS RELATIONS
According to the Embassy of Pakistan in Minsk, Pakistan recognized Belarus after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1994. Pakistan established its Embassy in Minsk in 2015. On the other side, Belarus established its Embassy in Islamabad in 2014.
PAKISTAN AND BELARUS TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Pakistan and Belarus created the Pakistan-Belarus Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, in 2015, to develop their bilateral trade and economic relations. The Commission has two chairs one by the Pakistan Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textiles, industry, and Production, Abdul Razak Dawood. From the side of Belarus, the co-chair of the Commission is the Minister of Energy, Viktor Karankevich.
Currently, the Commission has teams working in the fields of Industry, Agriculture, Science, and also Technology. Both countries also have forums to facilitate cooperation between the businesses. Some examples of those forums are Pak-Belarus Joint Business Council, Pak-Belarus Business & Investment Forum, Pak-Belarus Textile Forum. Finally, among those forums is the Pak-Belarus Agricultural Forum.
BILATERAL TRADE STATISTICS
The Embassy then mentioned that during 2019, the bilateral trade turnover between both remained at 50.2 million dollars. Pakistan’s total exports from Belarus were 15.1 million dollars, and the imports from Belarus were 35.1 million. According to the Embassy, the volume of trade between both ranges from 50 to 65 million annually.
Then the Embassy remarks on Pakistan’s exports and imports to and from Belarus. Pakistan exports rice, fruits, vegetables, leather, fabrics, textiles, sports equipment, and other machines also. The imports of the country are tractors, spare parts, trucks, tires, baby food, potash fertilizers, synthetic yarns, and fibers, newsprint, and others.
International Relations student at the Universidad de Navarra in Spain. Main interests are the work of International Organizations like the UN in the scope of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable human beings and the environment
