Islamabad: Pakistan and Belarus have engaged in detailed discussions about initiating a joint venture to set up a tractor manufacturing facility in Pakistan. The collaboration aims to boost the local agricultural sector and increase productivity. The discussions took place in a meeting held on Wednesday, involving key officials from both nations including Pakistan’s Minister for National Food Security, Rana Tanveer Hussain, and Belarusian Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, Vadim Shagoiko.

According to Press Information Department, the meeting was also attended by Belarusian Deputy Minister of Industry Andrei Kuznetsov, along with Secretary of Food Security Ali Tahir and Secretary of Industries Saif Anjum from Pakistan. The officials discussed multiple aspects of bilateral cooperation, including a joint initiative on a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine project to protect cattle, and training for agricultural engineers in machinery design.

During the discussions, Minister Hussain presented an extensive plan on cooperation in the livestock and seed sectors, agricultural mechanization, and enhancing market access for agricultural and livestock products. He underscored the importance of Belarusian engagement in these areas, stating that it significantly contributes to the bilateral relations between the two countries. Hussain also advocated for the entry of Pakistani fruits into the Belarusian market, highlighting potential benefits for both nations.

On his part, Deputy Minister Shagoiko expressed Belarus’s interest in setting up a veterinary medicine plant in Pakistan, to which Minister Hussain assured of Pakistan’s readiness to support such investments. The proposed tractor plant and other collaborative projects are expected to foster substantial economic growth and development in Pakistan’s agricultural sector.