By – Rahul Bali, Senior Journalist and Media Columnist, New Delhi 
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized a business delegation to Belarus on 04 to 6th June 2018. The visit aimed to promote Indian industry’s commitment to strengthen investment and trade between India and Belarus. The 14-member delegation met with diverse stakeholders – including government, industry, and media in a bid to strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries.
CII business delegation comprised of 14 members from 8 companies interested in setting up business in Belarus in sector such as Textile, Machinery, Agro Chemicals, Automative, Tractor and Farm Equipments, Financial Technology (Fintech), Power Transmission. Members of the delegation included Industry Representatives from Bajaj Industries Limited, Exotic International Pvt Ltd, KEC International Limited, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Tafe Limited, Iris Business Services Limited and Uniphos International Ltd and Durofibretex.
India- Belarus Business forum
India-Belarus Business Forum was organized in Minsk (Belarus) on June 4th, 2018. Indian Ambassador to Belarus H.E Saangeeta Bahadur and Leader of Indian Delegation Mr. Pankaj Bajaj spoke from Indian side during the forum. Ambassador stressed the need to reimagine the existing pattern of economic relations between the two countries and open news ways of economic cooperation for private sectors of both the countries. For example, Joint Manufacturing for EAEU market, partnering the reform process of Belarus by sharing IT and regulatory support andincreasing the current level of trade between the two countries were the main topic of discussion among Forum members. Vladimir Ulakhovich Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) addressed the forum and led the Belarusian Delegation during the forum. A presentation on Business and investment climate of the Republic of Belarus was done by Mr. Mikhail Dashuk. The deputy director of the National Agency of the Investments and Privatization
More than 50 representatives from various industries of Belarus participated in the Forum. Many Belarussian companies participated in the B2B meetings organized by the BCCI.
Delegation met with Deputy Minister of Economy, Deputy Minister of Anti-Monopoly and Regulation, Chairman of Belarussian Stock Exchange, Head of Settlement Registry of Belarus Central Banks and Mr. Myasnovich Speaker of Belarus National Assembly.
Visit to Special Economic Zone – Orsha
Some of the delegation members visited the special economic zone located in Orsha region of Belarus . Chairman of the Orsha District Executive Committee hosted a business lunch and participated in business negotiation with the interested members of Indian Delegation. Orsha region is located near the border of Russia and has very well developed infrastructure for setting up industries, logistics hub and can be an important business hub/transit point for Indian Businesses interested in EAEU market
