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MINSK, 19 March (BelTA) – Two Belarusian-Indian joint ventures to make medications may be opened by the end of the year, BelTA learned from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Belarus Pankaj Saxena.

According to the diplomat, representatives of the pharmaceutical industry of Belarus and India have been able to set up joint ventures to make medications that will sell well in Belarus and other Eurasian Economic Union member states. “Three such enterprises have been established already. I hope that two of them will start making products by the end of this year and the new medications will appear in Belarusian pharmacies,” said the ambassador.

Pankaj Saxena stressed that India views Belarus as one of the top-priority partners. He mentioned science, technology, innovations, defense, vocational training, agriculture, and tourism as promising avenues for advancing cooperation.

As far as cooperation with Belarusian industrial giants — BelAZ, MTZ, Gomselmash, and Belkommunmash — is concerned, all of them are busy advancing mutually beneficial bilateral relations, noted the diplomat. For instance, Gomselmash is in partnership with an Indian company, which localizes the production of spare parts for harvesters. Similar work with BelAZ is in progress. “The Indian mining industry has been open to private companies recently, this is why BelAZ representatives are busy negotiating sales of their products in India. As for MTZ, an agreement to sell MTZ products to India was signed recently. Negotiations on setting up a joint venture are also underway,” said the ambassador.

Apart from that, the sides are working on a project to set up an Indian industrial hub in Orsha, Vitebsk Oblast. In addition to attracting Indian companies it could sell products beyond the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union. Representatives of the two countries are working to fill this project with concrete content. The Belarusian side suggested holding an intergovernmental meeting in June 2018, specified Pankaj Saxena.

In his opinion, it is necessary to increase the flow of tourists from India to Belarus. Indian citizens now visit other countries more frequently. Belarus is a good travel destination in this regard. The ambassador mentioned the solid tourism potential and the good infrastructure of Belarus. “Belarus could also be a place for Bollywood to shoot movies. Belarus has everything the movie industry may need. I’d like to note that my children as well as other members of my family and friends fell in love with Belarus upon arrival,” said Pankaj Saxena.