25th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Belarus

India’s relations with Belarus have been traditionally warm and friendly. 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 in 1992 followed by Belarus in 1998 in New Delhi. Belarus opened its Honorary Consulate in Kolkata in December 2002.

Bilateral relations between India and Belarus are marked by broad understanding on issues of mutual interest. The two countries enjoy a comprehensive partnership and have established mechanisms for exchanging views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues through Foreign Office Consultations, Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), and Joint Commission on Military Technical Cooperation. The two countries have signed number of Agreements/MoUs on various subjects, namely, trade and economic cooperation, culture, education, media and sports, foreign office consultations, IGC, Avoidance of Double Taxation, Promotion and Protection of Investments, and also Defence and Technical cooperation.

Both countries have exchanged high level visits at regular intervals. Belarusian President visited India in 1997 and 2007. From India, The President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee paid a visit to Belarus in June 2015. The visit has further enhanced the existing bilateral relations. During the visit, 6 official MoUs for cooperation in areas such as broadcasting, standardization, textiles, and financial securities were signed and a Roadmap for future cooperation was exchanged.

The two countries enjoy good understanding and cooperation in the international, multilateral and regional matters with a common view on almost all international and regional issues. Belarus has been supportive of India’s candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Belarus supported India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat of UNSC for the years 2011–12. Belarus also supported India at the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) meeting in Seoul in April 2016.

Two-way bilateral trade in 2016 amounted to US$ 402 million. Indian Public Sector Undertaking, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd., was awarded a contract worth US$ 55.5 million by Grodno GSI of Grodno, for the expansion of Grodno Power Project-II. The project completed in 2013 and is running well. A Digital Learning Centre in ICT at High Technology Park in Minsk set up with India’s Rs. 5 Crore credit line began operating in February 2014; it was formally inaugurated in January 2016. Belarus played an important role in the setting up of India’s Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials in Hyderabad in 1990.

In 2011, BELAZ signed an MoU with an Indian company Enrika for establishing a joint venture for servicing the Belarusian mining dump trucks in India. Belarus participated in the ‘India International Trade Fair’ in November 2012 as ‘Partner Country’ and in 2016 as a focus country. Belarusian side sent a high level visit to Mumbai in February 2016 to participate in the ‘Make in India’ conference. The 10th Session of India-Belarus Joint Business Council was held in New Delhi in Nov 2016.

Belarus is a partner in the ITEC Programme of the Ministry of External Affairs since 1993. Till March 2017, over 290 Belarusian professionals have benefited under the Program through various professional courses in distinguished institutes in India.

The Indian Community in Belarus consists of around 100 Indian nationals and 350 Indian students pursuing studies in medicine in State medical universities in Belarus. Indian art and culture, dance, yoga, Ayurveda, films, etc. remain popular among Belarusian nationals.

The stamp on India-Belarus: Joint Issue depicts National Emblems of India and Belarus. The Miniature sheet has structures of Bahai Temple, New Delhi from India and National Library, Minsk from Belarus which shows the strong bond between the two great civilizations.

The National Emblem of India is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath which is still preserved in the Varanasi Sarnath Museum in India. It was approved by the Indian Government on 29th December 1947, and was officially adopted on 26th January 1950, the day India became a Republic. The actual Sarnath capital features four Asiatic lions standing back to back, symbolizing power, courage, confidence and pride mounted on a circular base. However, in the emblem adopted by the Indian Government in 1950, only three lions are visible, the fourth being hidden from view. The wheel appears in relief in the centre of the abacus with a bull on the right and a galloping horse on the left, and outlines of Dharma Chakras on the extreme right and left. Forming an integral part of the emblem is the motto inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script: Satyameva Jayate (Truth Alone Triumphs). This is a quote from Mundaka Upanishad.

The National Emblem of the Republic of Belarus is a symbol of state-sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus. The National Emblem of the Republic of Belarus represents a green contour of the Republic of Belarus in golden rays radiated by the Sun over the globe. On top of the contour there is a five-pointed red star. The emblem is framed by a wreath of golden wheat-ears interlaced with clover flowers on the right and flax flowers on the left. Wheat-ears are interlaced with a red-green ribbon carrying two gold lines. The Republic of Belarus is inscribed in the Belarusian language in the middle part of the emblem on the red-green ribbon. The Republic of Belarus celebrates the state holiday of the Belarus State Flag and State Emblem Day on the second Sunday of May every year.