Belarus keen to turn fert supply ties into JV with India: Foreign Minister

New Delhi: Belarus, a BRICS partner country, is keen to expand industrial partnership and agro sector cooperation with India, including through joint ventures, Belarus foreign minister Maxim Ryzhenkov told ET.

"While potash fertilisers and Indian pharmaceuticals remain key items of business, the trade basket has long expanded beyond them. Belarus is ready for deeper industrial cooperation and is highly interested in the advanced development of Indian pharmaceutical companies and prepared to establish joint ventures and localise production in India, in agricultural and cargo machinery, as well as fertilisers," Ryzhenkov said.

The minister also hinted at expanding defence industry partnership based on the Indian military's use of Soviet and Russian-origin defence equipment.