Opinions & Interviews

ISLAMABAD, 11 November (BelTA) – Belarus-Pakistan relations are developing at a rate that has not been seen before. Prime Minister of Belarus Andrei Kobyakov made the statement at the end of his official visit to Pakistan on 11 November, BelTA has learned.

Andrei Kobyakov said: “Belarus and Pakistan demonstrate unprecedented dynamics of bilateral relations. This year has already seen two visits at the top level — Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko visited Islamabad in May and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Minsk in August. Our visit has been arranged in line with the agreement between Alexander Lukashenko and Nawaz Sharif. The key purpose of the visit was to sign a Belarus-Pakistan cooperation roadmap. The document stipulates a system of measures and an action plan. The two components are designed to advance our trade and economic relations in a comprehensive manner.”

The Prime Minister stated that for now the bilateral trade turnover is much lower than the potential opportunities. In his words, the implementation of the roadmap will allow raising the trade volume up to at least $1 billion.

During the current visit contracts to supply about $55 million worth of Belarusian merchandise were signed. “It is a very good result yet we believe it is necessary to secure a brand new level of relations with Pakistan. Instead of mere trade we are talking about integral manufacturing cooperation, the establishment of joint ventures. As a result, we will secure the trade figures we count on,” explained the Belarusian head of government.

The Prime Minister underlined the importance of the opening of the Belarusian information and cultural center in the National Library of Pakistan. The center will be the place where any Pakistani can come to get familiar with Belarus’ accomplishments and business operation terms.

“We’ve had a lively business forum. The event was dedicated to cooperation between regions of Belarus and Islamabad. It was the third forum of the kind. I can say that business circles, government agencies and officials now properly know each other and cooperation avenues. The fact lies at the foundation of the roadmap we have signed,” stated the Belarusian head of government. Andrei Kobyakov also stressed the importance of signing agreements between regions of Belarus and Pakistan.

Andrei Kobyakov added that they had reached an agreement with the prime minister of Pakistan that the level and intensity of top-level contacts that began in 2015 would be continued into 2016. “In addition to signing agreements and treaties we are going to audit, sum up some results of the arrangements that were made before,” summed up the Prime Minister of Belarus.