ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Belarusian big companies led by Vladimir Ulakhovich, Chairman, Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI ) to explore development of business and economic cooperation with Pakistan The delegation represented various sectors including energy, textiles, automobile, logistics, agriculture & industrial machinery, chemical and petrochemicals industry, oil & gas and clothing & footwear industry.
Speaking at the occasion, Vladimir Ulakhovich, Chairman, Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Belarus was technologically advanced country and Pakistan could reap many benefits for its economy by improving economic relations with it. He said both countries enjoyed very good relations at political level and President of Belarus is coming to Pakistan to further improve bilateral relations. He said Belarusian businessmen wanted to transform these good political relations into growing trade and economic relations with Pakistan.
In his welcome address, Khalid Iqbal Malik, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Pakistan and Belarus had started cooperation in 1960s for the import and assembly of Belarusian tractors in Pakistan. However, bilateral trade was still far below the actual potential and both countries should give enhanced role to private sectors for improving two-way trade. He said Pakistan was an agricultural country and there was great scope for Belarusian agriculture machinery in Pakistan. He said both countries have good potential to promote cooperation in many areas including energy, automobile, industrial machinery, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, technology transfer, investment, forestry, steel, furniture, health and education sectors. He stressed that Pakistan and Belarus should become strategic partners in production of value-added exported-oriented products to achieve beneficial results for their economies.
He said removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers was essential for trade facilitation. He emphasized that both countries should establish direct banking links to facilitate trade as absence of banking channels was a major trade barrier. He said regular exchange of trade delegations was the best means to identify new areas of mutual cooperation.
He said Pakistan was the second largest market of South Asia and invited Belarusian investors to set up industrial plants in Pakistan to produce all kinds of heavy vehicles, buses, dumper trucks, cranes, agricultural machinery and other high technology solutions. He said Belarus was quite strong in fertilizers and chemicals fields and it should share its technology and expertise with Pakistan to improve productivity of these sectors.
