India, Belarus sign 10 pacts to Expand Cooperation

          On September 12,2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belarus President A.G. Lukashenko signed 10 pacts to expand cooperation in wide range of areas and decided for a joint collaboration in manufacturing and in defence sector under the ‘Make in India’ programme.

Highlights :-

• MoU between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus
• MoU in the Field of Vocational Education and Training
• Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
• MoU for Cooperation in Agricultural Research and Education
• Cooperation in the field of culture for 2018-2020
• MoU between M/o Petroleum & Natural Gas of the Republic of India and Belarusian State Concern of Oil and Chemistry in the Oil and Gas Sector
• MoU between JSC Belarusian Potash Company (BPC) and Indian Potash Ltd (IPL)

India – Belarus relations : –

            India was one of the first countries to recognize Belarus as independent country in 1991. Formal diplomatic relations were established and the Indian diplomatic mission was opened in Minsk in1992 followed by Belarus in 1998 in New Delhi. Belarus has been supportive of India’s candidature for a permanent seat at the UNSC.

Belarus Quick facts : –

• Capital             Minsk
• Currency         Belarusian ruble
• President         Alexander Lukashenko
• Prime Minister  Andrei Kobyakov