LAHORE: Pakistan and Belarus on Wednesday agreed to enhance bilateral economic cooperation in various sectors including investments, industries, agriculture, energy and health at the conclusion of the second session of Pakistan-Belarus Joint Ministerial Commission.
The two day event was jointly chaired by Commerce Minister, Khurram Dastgir Khan and Minister of Industry of the Republic of Belarus, Vitaly Vovk.
The meeting discussed implementation of the programme ‘Road Map of Bilateral Cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the Short and Medium Term’ signed last year. The two sides expressed their satisfaction over the programme progress.
Belarus assured its full support on Pakistan’s request for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union.
A consensus was reached on the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers which were hampering bilateral trade facilitation. The absence of banking channels was identified as a major non-tariff barriers.
Both sides agreed to establish sub-group of the Joint Trade Committee to identify potential products for goods exchange operations.
Belarus agreed to simplify visa procedures for Pakistani businessmen in order to enhance bilateral economic ties.
To further formalise the collaboration on Customs, a Memorandum of Understanding would be signed between Belarus’s State Customs Committee and Customs Wing of the Federal Board of Revenue.
TRACTOR PRODUCTION: The meeting was informed that installation and commissioning work of assembly line for Belarusian tractors would complete in May 2015 and after trial production, regular production would begin.
Based on productions results of locally made Belarusian tractor, a procedure for the yearly localisation plan would be carried out.
The two sides agreed to collaborate on training of Pakistani doctors and para-medical staff in higher education institutions of Belarus.
The two sides agreed to hold third meeting of the Commission in September 2016 in Brest.
