Belarus is ready to build deeper and more extensive relations with India

Belarus is ready to build deeper and more extensive relations with India. This was stated by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on June 3 at a meeting with the President of India Pranab Mukherjee, BELTA was informed by the press service of the Belarusian leader.

"We have never hidden our pride in our relations with India," said the head of the Belarusian state. "We are ready to go our way quickly, efficiently, responsibly, if it is your will, we can very quickly raise our trade and economic relations to a normal level corresponding to our potential."

Regarding interaction in the political sphere and diplomacy, the President drew attention to the fact that Belarus and India have never had negative relations or problems. Alexander Lukashenko assured his Indian counterpart that this would continue to be the case.

"Attempts to isolate Belarus, to somehow put it in its place, to exert pressure are futile as long as we have relations with such giant states as yours," said the Belarusian leader.

"On the eve of your visit to Belarus, from both sides, as I was informed, there are still quite a few skeptics regarding the deepening of our cooperation. It will probably be right if we decently disappoint such people and do our utmost to make our relations large-scale," emphasized the President of Belarus.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that this is not the first time he has met with Pranab Mukherjee, and his visits to India were very successful and laid the foundation for bilateral relations. He also drew attention to the fact that the two states have an excellent history of relations since the time of the Soviet Union.

The Presidents discussed conceptually and practically specific areas of bilateral cooperation and agreed to diversify relations. "We are ready not only for discussion but also for making concrete decisions," noted the Belarusian leader.

Alexander Lukashenko proposed to India the implementation of a number of new joint mutually beneficial projects with Belarus in both industrial and humanitarian spheres.

"Since the first days of Belarus's independence, your country has become our loyal and reliable friend. Over more than twenty years of diplomatic relations, we have built a full-fledged partnership dialogue. Today, Belarus is ready for even closer bilateral cooperation," the Belarusian leader emphasized.

"Possessing modern technologies and equipment, we are ready to participate in the modernization of India's mining industry and the increase in the productivity of its oil and gas sector," noted the President of Belarus.

Alexander Lukashenko drew attention to the fact that in the coming years, India plans to significantly increase coal production, which will require the involvement of additional equipment for such development. According to him, BelAZ heavy-duty trucks are already operating in India and demonstrate high performance characteristics. "We propose to complete the creation of our own service center for such complex machinery in your country by the end of 2015. This will ensure a complete chain of timely, high-quality, and efficient maintenance of Belarusian quarry equipment from its sale to operation," said the Belarusian leader.

Alexander Lukashenko considers the organization of joint production of buses, trucks, utility, and road construction equipment to be promising. "I am confident that the machinery and equipment produced in India will also be in demand in other Southeast Asian countries. Thus, we will be able to enter these countries with joint Belarusian-Indian products," the Belarusian leader emphasized. At the same time, in his opinion, it is important to establish not only the exchange of technologies but also to mutually develop distribution networks for entering new markets.

In the opinion of the head of the Belarusian state, cooperation in the field of tractor manufacturing also looks promising. Belarusian tractors have been known in India since Soviet times. "Today, it is apparently economically feasible to begin organizing joint production of equipment under the 'Belarus' brand in India. This project aligns with the spirit of the 'Make in India' program implemented by your government. Taking into account the Indian 'Skill Development' program, we could assist in training highly qualified specialists needed for your economy," noted the President of Belarus. To this end, he proposed discussing the establishment of technical training centers in India with Belarusian participation.

Regarding the joint promotion of Belarusian and Indian goods, Alexander Lukashenko considers it important to strengthen ties between the banks and financial organisations of the two countries.

"We are closely cooperating with Indian companies on the reconstruction and construction of power engineering facilities in Belarus. Deepening cooperation in this area, as well as in the implementation of other infrastructure projects, will be beneficial for both countries," the Belarusian head of state is convinced.

The Belarusian side welcomes the entry of Indian investors into the pharmaceutical production sector, taking into account India's achievements in pharmaceuticals.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, joint developments in the fields of nano- and biotechnology, microelectronics, mechanical engineering, and renewable energy sources may also become promising.

"We propose creating such production facilities in the 'Great Stone' Industrial Park. Park residents enjoy the support of the Government of Belarus, unprecedented benefits, and unimpeded access to the market of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the European Union," noted the Belarusian head of state.

The President of Belarus expressed confidence that joint solutions will provide an additional impetus for the implementation of new mutually beneficial projects.

"Only geographical distances separate us from India, but they will never become an obstacle in the development of contacts between our countries and peoples, because our countries and peoples have a serious history of relations," emphasised Alexander Lukashenko.

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, expressed confidence in the great prospects for economic cooperation with Belarus. In his opinion, the upcoming Belarusian-Indian business forum will contribute to this. "I am sure that Belarusian and Indian companies will find common interests," said Pranab Mukherjee.

He announced that the Government of India has decided to recognise Belarus as a market economy. In his opinion, this will significantly improve trade and economic relations in the coming years.

Pranab Mukherjee stressed that India intends to allocate a credit line of $100 million for its companies to implement joint projects with Belarus in areas to be determined during the high-level Belarusian-Indian negotiations.

"Despite the fact that trade and economic relations are developing, there are great opportunities for their intensification," believes the Indian leader. "It is necessary to diversify the sector of goods sold in order to exceed the current level of turnover of $400 million."

Following the high-level negotiations, a number of bilateral documents were signed.

In particular, Belarus and India signed a roadmap for bilateral cooperation.

The parties signed a protocol to the intergovernmental agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and property (capital).

Memoranda of cooperation were signed in the fields of finance, standardization and information support, broadcasting, textiles, clothing and the fashion industry.

News of Belarus (BELTA)