Opinions & Interviews

DELHI, 29 August (BelTA) – Science, technologies and agriculture are promising cooperation avenues for India and Belarus, Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters answering BelTA’s question.

“The entire Eastern European region, including Belarus, is of interest for us. We can successfully collaborate with Belarus in a number of areas, first of all, in agriculture, science and technology, and education,” the minister said. He noted that other instruments, besides governmental meetings, should be used to expand contacts between Belarus and India. “Meetings of government officials are important, but they should be followed by meetings of businessmen and ordinary people. Mass media in Belarus and India should provide more coverage of the two countries; now such information is scarce,” Salman Khurshid said.

In his view, visa requirements should be eased to facilitate Belarus-India cooperation.

In 2012 Belarus welcomed 1,200 Indian nationals. The number of Belarusians visiting India is increasing year to year. Last year 5,000 Belarusian tourists travelled to India. This number of visas was issued for Belarusians in the Indian Embassy in Minsk.

According to the Belarusian Embassy in Delhi, India is among the key trading partners of the Republic of Belarus in Asia. Belarus’ export to India exceeds import from this country. In 2012 India ranked 20^th among Belarus’ trading partners. The bilateral trade was estimated at $494.6 million. Belarus shipped over 90 names of goods worth $262.2 million to India.

Belarus’ major exports to India included potash and nitrogen fertilizers, heavy-duty vehicles, acrylic fiber, bearings, tires, leather, etc.

Belarus’ major imports from India are pharmaceuticals, tobacco, tea, seafood, spices, nuts, oils, some chemical compounds, cotton yarn, transformers and other products.

Several Belarusian companies opened offices in India, including Belarusian Potash Company, Beltekhexport, Amkodor, joint venture BelAZ Enrika Mining Equipments Services Private Limited. The Business Cooperation Council was set up by the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Belarus and India actively collaborate within the framework of the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. The government of India views Belarus as a reliable partner that pursues an independent foreign policy, has a great political authority and plays a leading role in post-Soviet integration.