Minsk, 24 November 2021 (GNP/ TDI): Today, Ambassador of Pakistan to Belarus Mr. Sajjad Haider Khan held a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of Belarus, Mr. Ivan Smilgin who is also the Chief State Veterinarian of Belarus. Khan and Smilgin emphasized Pakistan-Belarus agricultural cooperation.
Mr. Valery Bogdanovsky, Head of the International Cooperation Department, and Ms. Hanna Linkevich, Consultant of the International Cooperation Department also attended the meeting.
Appreciating the ongoing cooperation, meetings of the Joint Working Group on Agriculture in July 2020, and recent participation in the trade exhibitions, the two sides discussed the future development of beneficial cooperation between Pakistan and Belarus in the field of Agriculture.
The Ambassador noted the positive increase in export from Belarus to Pakistan and highlighted the importance of establishing a win-win situation through balancing the trade, which currently is in favor of Belarus.
In this regard, the Ambassadors particularly mentioned the strong intention of the Pakistan side to start export of fish products from Pakistan for which one of the top exporters of Pakistan was in the process of securing registration and import permit. The Belarusian side showed its interest in the export of meat and dairy products.
Moreover, the Ambassador also told about the interest of Pakistani companies, in participating in the Belagro exhibition scheduled in June 2022 in Minsk.
PAKISTAN-BELARUS RELATIONS
First, Pakistan recognized the Republic of Belarus in 1991. Three years later, Pakistan and Belarus established diplomatic relations in 1994. Belarus opened an embassy in Islamabad in 2014. On the other side, since 2015, Pakistan has had an embassy in Minsk. Both countries cooperate closely by addressing issues on both regional and global agendas.
In 2015, the countries signed the Islamabad Declaration of the Pakistan-Belarus Partnership. Regarding the Joint Belarusian-Pakistan Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation, both countries have groups to cooperate in the agriculture field. Their mutual relations have grown at an unprecedented rate.