The Minister was speaking at the inaugural session of Belarus Pakistan Business Forum at Expo Centre here on Friday. Ambassador of Belarus Anddrei Ermolovich also spoke on the occasion.
He said the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Belarus is below its true potential. He said the forum gave an exclusive platform for the business people from Belarus to connect and network with the local industry as the businessmen from Belarus are looking for investment and joint venture opportunities in Pakistan. Over 250 delegates from seven countries are participating the three day exhibition which is showcasing over 200 products. The event is expected to host more than 40, 000 trade visitors from relevant field.
Mian Aslam Iqbal said that Pakistan and Belarus enjoy strong and cordial relations and Pakistan gives immense importance to its relations with Belarus. Glancing at historical relations Pakistan was amongst first state to recognize Belarus after Soviet Union breakdown in 1991. Both the countries enjoy deep friendly ties and Pakistan desires to further enhance bilateral cooperation with Belarus in the fields of industry, agriculture and trade.
He said Pakistan's current imports of US$ 40.68 million from Belarus range from agriculture to industry and preserved foods. These includes tractors and spare parts trucks, potash fertilizers, Tires, machine tools and other things. On the other hands Pakistan exports to Belarus were just US$ 1.66 million during 2018-19 which are not substantial.
Mian Aslam Iqbal has said that due to strong political relations between Pakistan and Belarus, trade and economic cooperation is also expanding, both the governments need to encourage business communities to interact more frequently with each other. He said that it is heartening to know that the trade promotion organization of both the countries have signed a MoU to facilitate participation in business promotion events in Pakistan and Belarus.
Belarus can also assist Pakistan in boosting its auto-mobile industry and assembly of busses, manufacturing of tractors and grain harvesters. Similarly the modern technical infrastructure of Belarus can help to strengthen and colonization of various industrial estates in Punjab under the public-private partnership, he added.
Ambassador of Belarus Anddrei Ermolovich has said Belarus and Pakistan enjoy trade and economic relations, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan will visit Belarus on the invitation of President of Belarus. This visit will help to enhance bilateral economic relations between both the countries. He said that Pakistan and Belarus can enhance cooperation in science and technology, education, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, auto-mobile industries and other sectors.