Energy Minister: Belarus-Pakistan trade turnover doubled last year to make $50m
Over three decades, the peoples of Belarus and Pakistan have strengthened relations based on the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes and mutually beneficial co-operation, which are enshrined in the Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation between the Republic of Belarus and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan – as stated by Belarus’ Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich during a reception on the occasion of the 84th National Day of Pakistan and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Belarus and Pakistan
“Co-operation between Belarus and Pakistan is intensifying on international platforms, including within the framework of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation. We thank Pakistan for the timely ratification of the memorandum of Belarus’ obligations to obtain the status of a full-fledged SCO member state. In recent years, the political dialogue has intensified, which has contributed to the creation of all necessary conditions for the full development of bilateral relations in all spheres, without exception," Mr. Karankevich stressed, adding that the sixth meeting of the Belarusian-Pakistani joint economic commission held in Minsk in January 2023 could confirm that. “Following the meeting, my colleague, the Federal Minister of Energy of Pakistan, Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, and I signed a protocol defining the main directions of bilateral co-operation until 2025. The Belarusian side has also developed a roadmap with a set of measures to increase trade turnover with Pakistan, it will be signed by the parties in the near future,” he said.
Mr. Karankevich stressed the importance of the official visit of Belarus’ Foreign Minister to Pakistan in May last year, during which an agreement on visa-free regime for holders of diplomatic and official (service) passports and other organisational issues was signed. Aspects of the top-level meetings were discussed as well. “We are waiting for the return visit of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister to Belarus,” he said.
Supporting the proposals of the Pakistani partners, the Education Ministry of Belarus has for the first time allocated quotas for the education of students from Pakistan in Belarusian universities. The parties hope this will contribute to the expansion of bilateral co-operation in the field of education.
Mr. Karankevich noted that consultations on banking issues, as well as meetings of working groups on agriculture and industry, had made it possible to exchange information at the expert level and discuss ways to expand liaisons in these areas, “Our joint active work, including the offline and online consultations and negotiations between businessmen, enabled the countries to increase their trade turnover 2.5-fold last year against the 2022 figures and to bring it to $50m. However, this figure does not meet the available potential, so the key task for this year is to further increase trade turnover and ensure its diversification. I believe that Belarusian and Pakistani manufacturers have something to offer their consumers.”
As recalled by the Energy Minister, 2024 has been declared Year of Quality in Belarus. “I am convinced that, by uniting our efforts, we will be able to effectively implement all planned activities aimed at strengthening the comprehensive partnership between Belarus and Pakistan this year,” Mr. Karankevich stated.
