7th Session of Joint Ministerial Commission between Pakistan & Belarus held in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD, Sep 24 (SABAH): The 7th Session of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) between Pakistan and Belarus was hosted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and co-chaired by Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan along with the Belarusian Minister for Energy Aleksei Kushnarenko.
Before the plenary session, both co-chairs Mir Jam Kamal Khan and Aleksei Kushnarenko met one-to-one with each other in order to discuss the things regarding JMC. The session began by the opening remarks of Humair Karim, Special Secretary Ministry of Economic Affairs, who congratulated both countries on the commencement of the JMC. Following this, the podium was passed to Jam Kamal and Aleksei Kushnarenko for their welcome address. The JMC commenced with high spirits from both sides and concluded with fruitful Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and strong commitments for future collaboration.
In his welcome speech, Minister for Commerce Mir Jam Kamal Khan said that on the behalf of Government of Pakistan he extends a warm welcome to Minister Kushnarenko and the Belarusian delegation. He added that our collaboration represents a pivotal opportunity to strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties. He highlighted that the current bilateral trade volume between both countries indicated that there is significant potential for growth, especially in sectors like textiles and automotive manufacturing. In addition, he stated that we want to invite Belarusian investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan under the Special Investment Facilitation Council. He was quite optimistic that these discussions will lead to concrete outcomes and a prosperous partnership for both nations. In his closing remarks he said “I am thankful to Alexey Kushnarenko and Belarusian delegation. This session marked significant progress in trade, industry, agriculture, and education. I look forward to the 8th session in Minsk in 2025 and express gratitude for everyone’s contributions.”
Belarusian Minister of Energy Aleksei Kushnarenko emphasized that the joint ministerial commission represents a potential game changer for the economies of both countries. He expressed his commitment to ensuring Belarus’s cooperation with Pakistan across all sectors, highlighting the significance of this partnership. Kushnarenko suggested that the establishment of joint working groups would be a positive step forward, facilitating deeper collaboration and focused efforts on mutual interests. He commended Pakistan for its efforts in organizing the session of the Joint Ministerial Commission, noting that such initiatives are essential for strengthening bilateral ties. In his closing statement, he extended his gratitude to all concerned departments in Pakistan that participated in the session, with a special mention of Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan for his leadership and engagement. This collaborative spirit, as articulated by Kushnarenko, underscores a shared vision for economic growth and cooperation between Belarus and Pakistan, laying a strong foundation for future endeavors.
During the joint ministerial conference, a technical session was held consisting of two meetings facilitated by the Economic Coordination (EC) wing of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The first meeting focused on Trade & Commerce, Banking, Industries & Production, and Transportation, attended by officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Industries & Production, Finance, and Communication. The second meeting addressed Agriculture, Health, Education, Science & Technology, and Tourism, with participation from officials of the Ministry of National Food Security, National Health Services, Science & Technology, Inter-Provincial Coordination, and Federal Education. Both meetings facilitated productive dialogue between Pakistani officials and the Belarusian delegation, highlighting a commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and exploring avenues for mutual benefit.