Islamabad: The 7th Session of the Pakistan-Belarus Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) convened in Islamabad, focusing on enhancing bilateral trade and cooperation across various sectors including textiles, automotive manufacturing, and agriculture machinery. The session was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce, Mr. Jam Kamal Khan, and Belarus’s Minister for Energy, H.E. Aleksei Kushnarenko.
According to Press Information Department, the JMC was hosted by Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs. The meeting commenced with opening remarks by Mr. Muhammad Humair Karim, Special Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs, followed by speeches from the co-chairs. Mr. Khan highlighted the need for diversification and expansion of trade volumes between the two nations, inviting Belarusian investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan with the aid of the Special Investment Facilitation Council. Minister Kushnarenko reiterated Belarus’s commitment to strengthening cooperation, particularly in heavy machinery, agriculture, and automotive sectors.
Throughout the session, both parties engaged in technical discussions covering key areas such as Trade and Commerce, Banking, Industries and Production, Transportation, Agriculture, Health, Education, Science and Technology, and Tourism. These talks led to mutual agreements on enhancing trade diversification, establishing a roadmap for comprehensive cooperation for 2025-2027, and exploring public-private partnerships with key Belarusian enterprises like the Minsk Automobile Plant.
Significant outcomes of the meeting included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in the textile sector and an agreement to establish Belarusian agricultural machinery manufacturing plants in Pakistan. Both sides also agreed to create joint ventures between high-tech Belarusian companies and Pakistani counterparts.
The session concluded with both countries signing the protocol of the discussions and expressing a commitment to continue close coordination. They also planned for the signing of major agreements during forthcoming high-level visits, including those by the Prime Minister of Belarus for the SCO Summit in October 2024, and the President of Belarus’s visit to Pakistan in November 2024.