India and Belarus on Wednesday decided to work together on Defence and security issues as President Pranab Mukherjee met his Belarusian counterpart and agreed on a 17-point roadmap aimed at strengthening mutual trust and confidence. The President, who arrived here late on Tuesday night on a two-day visit, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the majestic Palace of Independence by Belarusian President AG lukashenko. Earlier, during an interaction with business leaders from India and Sweden in Stockholm before leaving for Belarus President Mukherjee announced e-tourist visas for all Swedish nationals.
Mukherjee, who was on the last leg of his State visit to Sweden, assured the Swedish CEOs that the Indian Government is “responsive to industry and investors”. “It is creating an appropriate atmosphere in the country to promote investment and manufacturing. A constant dialogue between investors and officials will help at the arrival of solutions to specific problems,” he said. later, soon after his arrival in Belarus, Mukherjee had a one-to-one meeting with Belarusian President lukashenko. During the talks with lukashenko, the President discussed a host of issues which included increasing trade, Defence and security ties between the two countries besides boosting co-operation in the field of mining, ducation and heavy machinery.
later, the two Presidents witnessed a signing ceremony of several agreements and Memorandum of Understandings, including agreements between Securities and Exchange Board of India, Ministry of Finance, Bureau of Indian Standards as well as between Prasar Bharti and National State Television. The agreements signed included the 17-point roadmap which is aimed at strengthening mutual trust and confidence between the two countries and having a strong commitment to develop multifaceted and long-term co-operation. The two countries will work together to ensure full implementation of MoU on Defence-related technical cooperation between the countries and develop a legal framework for bilateral cooperation in the field of security issues.
The roadmap will ensure enhancing of high-level and ministerial contact between the two countries, optimise the structure of bilateral trade, increase trade turnover, create favourable conditions for enhanced direct investment and promote practical cooperation between financial institutions. Under the agreement, the two countries will enhance coordination in science and technology, energy sector, metals and mining, potash fertilisers, give boost to raw material in textile sector, extension of cooperation by Belarus in modernisation of public electric transport system in India, agriculture and agro procession.