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Lukashenko names agriculture driver of Belarus-Pakistan cooperation
MINSK, 11 April (BelTA) – Agriculture and related industries are the drivers of cooperation between Belarus and Pakistan, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during an expanded-format meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Minsk on 11 April, BelTA has learned.
“In general, I believe that agriculture and related industries are the drivers of our bilateral cooperation,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
The president remarked that the two countries should focus, among other things, on addressing important tasks - developing agriculture and ensuring food security. “Knowing how much importance you attach to the agricultural sector, I think you will agree with me,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Speaking about cooperation in the agricultural sector, the president noted that it is diverse and has great prospects. “I believe we can set up joint assembly factories to manufacture agricultural machinery in Pakistan. This includes BELARUS tractors and trailers for cultivating agricultural products,” the head of state said. “We will make sure you will benefit from this cooperation and will never regret it.”
The president drew attention to the fact that thanks to the prompt assistance of the prime minister, Belarusian veterinary drugs have been certified in Pakistan for the first time and their deliveries are to start in the near future.
The president suggested that representatives of the Pakistani side take it up a notch and move on to specific negotiations on the supply of Belarusian grain and corn seeds to Pakistan. “Ministries and business circles of the two countries need to finalize negotiations on contracts by the next sowing season,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that Belarusian consumers will be happy to see Pakistani goods in stores. The outcomes of the Belarus-Pakistan Business Forum, that took place in Minsk on the eve of the talks, give grounds to expect an increase in supplies of Pakistani products, including rice and tangerines, pharmaceuticals and textiles, sporting goods, clothing and footwear.
In addition, Belarus offered the Pakistani government its assistance in implementing an ambitious task - to replace a third of public transport with electric vehicles by 2030. “Our enterprise BKM Holding has all the necessary competencies to manufacture modern electric buses and super-fast charging stations,” the president said. “We are ready to localize the production of these vehicles in Pakistan, which will reduce their cost, create new jobs and attract advanced technologies and competencies.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko suggested discussing supplies of modern quarry dump trucks made by BelAZ, as well as trucks and road construction equipment manufactured by MAZ and Amkodor for Pakistan's coal and copper mining companies and for implementing infrastructure projects.
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