Opinions & Interviews

“India sincerely hopes to develop good and friendly relations with all the countries, including Belarus. The ties with Belarus are based on mutual trust, respect, understanding and cooperation for the benefit of the two nations. The two countries study each other’s experience and demonstrate similar viewpoints on various bilateral, regional and international problems. A high level of exchange between our countries and regular consultations on the matters of mutual interest provides necessary impetus to further development of contacts,” the diplomat said.

According to the Ambassador, the momentum created during the Indian President’s visit to Belarus in June 2015 continued building up in 2016. A highlight of the year was the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko during the SCO Summit in Tashkent in June. There was also a successful visit for the Belarusian parliamentary delegation to India in May and the participation of the Belarusian Industry Minister in Make in India conference in Mumbai.

“The two countries attach great significance to further development and diversification of bilateral trade and economic ties. Pharmaceutical industry is one of the most important areas of bilateral cooperation. Two representative delegations from India paid a visit to Minsk. One of them consisting representatives of pharmaceutical companies came to meet their Belarusian counterparts. India was a partner country at the international specialized exhibition Healthcare of Belarus in Minsk in 2016. A big delegation of Indian healthcare representatives, producers of medical equipment and medical tourism took part in the event. Besides, in 2016 three joint pharmaceutical companies were opened, with India introducing its investments and technologies,” said Pankaj Saxena.

Belarus was the Guest of Honor at the international trading fair in New Delhi in November 2016. In the same month Minsk played host to the Indian-Belarusian business forum.

The Ambassador stressed that the two countries held a number of bilateral consultations on different issues in 2016. They included meetings between ministries of foreign affairs, committees on science and technology, joint business councils. Apart from that, the two countries support each other at various regional and international platforms.

The diplomat stressed that 2017 is an important year for India and Belarus as the two countries mark the 25^th anniversary of the diplomatic relations. The embassy plans to organize a number of events in Belarus to celebrate the anniversary.