MINSK, 23 February (BelTA) – The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) invites Pakistan to carry out nine joint projects in the agricultural sector, BelTA learned from the NASB press service.
“On Thursday, 23 February, representatives of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus held talks with a delegation of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research of Pakistan led by First Deputy Minister Muhammad Abid Javed co-chairing the joint working group. The Academy of Sciences attaches great importance to bolstering the mutually beneficial cooperation with Pakistan. The NASB has already developed a set of measures to step up the cooperation with the organizations of this country in 2016-2020. It includes nine projects designed to be carried out in cooperation with the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. We are ready to implement these projects in the near future,” the press service said.
The NASB representatives specified that the nine projects envisage exchange of genetic resources of fruit and berry crops, methods for minimizing harvest loss, and technologies for advanced processing of dairy products. “Besides, the NASB Research Center for Mechanization of Agriculture is ready to consider launching supplies of agricultural machinery to Pakistan and design a system for innovative production of agricultural products bearing in mind the soil and climate of Pakistan,” the press service explained.
First Deputy National Food Security and Research Minister Muhammad Abid Javed noted that today Pakistan is interested in agricultural cooperation and establishing joint ventures to manufacture dairy and meat products with the use of Belarusian technologies.
The NASB representatives said that on 23 February, the Pakistani delegation visited the agricultural research centers of the Academy of Sciences. They noted that the visits will help develop more specific suggestions concerning further cooperation.
The NASB has already submitted proposals regarding the joint research projects. The proposals will be carefully considered this year, along with financing opportunities and appointment of officials responsible for the implementation of the future projects.