Events

MINSK, 20 May (BelTA) – India President Pranab Mukherjee plans to visit Belarus in June, BelTA learned from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Belarus Manoj Kumar Bharti during the India Day at the International University MITSO in Minsk on 20 May.

According to the diplomat, Belarus and India have the necessary potential to greatly increase the current level of trade, which is now close to $0.5 billion. “Belarus and India are good trade partners. We are interested in raising the level of economic cooperation,” said Manoj Kumar Bharti.

As an example of mutually beneficial partnership the Ambassador mentioned the project to reconstruct Grodno cogeneration plant No. 2 with the assistance of an Indian company. The facility was commissioned in summer 2013. Apart from that, Belarus is a major supplier of potash fertilizers to India.

The meeting with MITSO students and professors also touched upon Belarusian-Indian cooperation in education and culture. There are plans to sign agreements on student exchange programs between Belarusian and Indian universities during the forthcoming visit of the India president to Belarus. As far as cultural affairs are concerned, a number of programs meant to foster cultural exchange are already in effect.

BelTA reported earlier that Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei visited India in April 2015. Vladimir Makei held negotiations with the management of major companies, which were interested in advancing cooperation with Belarus. Taking into account large-scale plans of the Indian government to develop mining industry, agriculture, and other economy branches the negotiations focused on shipping more Belarusian large-capacity dump trucks, agricultural machines, and automobiles to India. Apart from that, the establishment of joint enterprises to make automobile components and food was discussed.

Indian pharmaceutical companies were invited to step up their presence in Belarus for the sake of localizing the production of the medications Belarus imports from India. The positive experience of implementing three projects to make pharmaceutical products in Belarus was taken into account.

Vladimir Makei offered assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a view to stepping up cooperation between Belarusian manufacturers and representatives of Indian business circles for the sake of signing a number of commercial contracts soon.