India, Belarus talk trade, want to step it up

NEW DELHI: India and Belarus today underscored the need for stepping up the bilateral trade from the current level of USD 230 million.

The issue of increasing the trade turnover was discussed between Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who called on Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

Sitharaman is in Minsk for the 7th India-Belarus Inter Governmental Commission for Trade & Economic Cooperation.

"The meeting focussed on the trade and economic relations... Although the trade volume is on the rise, the two sides believe that there is a good potential to boost bilateral trade," said Belarusian news agency, BelTA.

The meeting also focused on promoting cooperation between the countries in sectors such as manufacturing, mechanical engineering, pharmaceutics, potash mining, IT and education.

It also said the Belarusian side weighed the possibility to set up a large industrial centre in India for production, sale and maintenance of equipment.

"The Indian side is interested in this idea and is ready to do its utmost to implement the project," it added.

Quoting the Belarusian President, it said, Lukashenko encouraged Indian pharmaceutical companies to enhance their presence in their market.

Sitharaman said Indian companies are ready to buy potash fertilisers and invest in the Belarusian potash industry.

The Indian side is also interested in raising the number of Indian students in Belarusian universities, it said.