Belarus is ready to set up new joint ventures in Pakistan, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Pakistan to Belarus Sajjad Haider Khan on 8 April, BelTA has learned.

The head of state noted that he would like to discuss cooperation prospects. The president recalled that he had visited Pakistan twice, and Belarus had built good relations both with the previous government and with the incumbent one.

“Despite the situation unfolding in Pakistan today, I am absolutely sure that the Pakistani leadership, the Pakistani elite, has enough wisdom to preserve this giant nuclear state in this very difficult period. We have built groundwork for cooperation. As far as I know, our joint venture to produce equipment is now up and running in Punjab. We are ready to move on. I am sure that you are well aware of what we can do and how we can be useful to Pakistan. If you have an interest in our economy, you are welcome to visit any our company, any institution,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

The ambassador of Pakistan, in turn, said that his country views Belarus as a friend and ally in the region. He noted that over the past few years, the two countries signed more than 80 bilateral agreements, ten more documents are under discussion.

In 2021 the trade between Belarus and Pakistan amounted to $92.6 million, up more than 77% over 2020. Belarus had a trade surplus of $63.6 million. Belarus' main exports were tractors and spare parts for them, potash fertilizers, dual-use goods, synthetic threads, cellulose, dairy products, medicines, diesel engines.