Islamabad: Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko arrived in Pakistan today, Monday, on a three-day visit as Islamabad pushes for foreign investment from allies old and new in a bid to shore up its $350 billion economy as it navigates a tough reforms agenda mandated by the IMF.

A 68-member delegation from Belarus had arrived in the Pakistani capital on Sunday ahead of Lukashenko’s visit and on Monday Belarus’ Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov oversaw the signing of several agreements on tractors, pharmaceuticals, tires and veterinary medicines. 

“President of Belarus is visiting Pakistan from 25 to 27 November 2024 at the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif,” Sharif’s office said in a statement after Lukashenko’s arrival in Islamabad, where he was received at the airport by the Pakistani PM and other top government officials. 

“During the visit of the President of Belarus to Pakistan, there will be a meeting between President Lukashenko and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and there will also be discussions at the delegation level between the two countries.”

Lukashenko’s delegation includes prominent businessmen and investors as well as key ministers of the Belarusian cabinet. 

Ahead of the president’s arrival, senior Belarus ministers met their Pakistani counterparts and discussed collaborations. 

“During a meeting with Belarusian delegation, which was led by Minister for Industries Aliaksandr Yafimua, Pakistani Minister for Industries Rana Tanveer said Pakistan has considerable export potential with Belarus for items like inflatable footballs, articles of bedding and similar stuffed items, sports and outdoor games equipment, footwear, rubber, plastic and metal products,” Pakistan’s state news agency APP said. 

Tanveer discussed cooperation in the field of agricultural machinery, tractor manufacturing plants and technology transfer under Joint Ventures (JVs).

The minister extended an invitation to his Belarusian counterpart to start a pilot project on agricultural productivity enhancement in Pakistan.

“He said M/s Millat Group dealing with agricultural machinery wanted a JV for manufacturing agricultural equipments in Pakistan. During the meeting, both sides also deliberated on the prospects of Belarusian investment and JVs in the area of electric vehicles (EVs),” APP said.

The two sides also discussed opportunities to enhance cooperation in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector. 

Yafimua said Belarus imported goods worth $17.2 billion annually but Pakistan’s current share in this trade is not reflective of its true export potential. He also identified key products that Pakistan could export to Belarus, including inflatable footballs, bedding items, sports and outdoor equipment, footwear, and rubber, plastic, and metal goods.

Pakistan law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar also met his counterpart Kovalenko Evgen.

“The key discussion points included digitalization of the legal system, capacity building for prosecutors and attorneys, legal education and awareness, legislative drafting and international cooperation, exchange of Bar councils/associates, International Mediation and Arbitration Center (IMAC), and Case Assignment and Management System (CAMS),” APP said. 

Pakistan and Belarus, the world’s 74th-largest economy by GDP, celebrated thirty years of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize Belarus after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and maintains an embassy in Minsk.

The prime minister of Belarus was in Islamabad earlier this year where he met his counterpart as well as the chief of the Pakistan army, among other key leaders.

In September, Pakistan and Belarus discussed different options for a joint venture to establish a tractor plant in the country and reached a consensus on collaborating on a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine to protect cattle, as well as on the capacity building of agricultural engineers in machinery design.

They also agreed to enhance cooperation in the sectors of livestock and seeds, and work together on the mechanization of agriculture and on increasing market access for agricultural and livestock products. Belarus also wants to set up a veterinary medicine plant in Pakistan.

The First Pakistan-Belarus Joint Economic Commission (JEC) was held in 2015 in which the two countries agreed to initiate joint ventures in the textile, pharmaceutical and lighting solution industries and share technological expertise.