QUETTA: Belarus Ambas­sador Andrei G. Ermolovich met Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri on Thursday and discussed opportunities for investment in various sectors in the province.

The envoy expressed inte­rest in making investment in various sectors, including joint ventures with the Balochistan government in manufacturing heavy machinery for agriculture and mining.

He said a delegation of Belarusian investors, led by the governor of Brest province, would soon visit Balochistan for the purpose.

Mr Ermolovich termed the China-Pakistan Econo­mic Corridor an important project and said his country would set up a vocational training centre in Balochistan to train youths in various fields.

Nawab Zehri informed the ambassador that the provincial government wanted to use the mineral resources, including those of Reko Diq, in a transparent manner for the wellbeing of the people.

For achieving this goal, he said, the government was encouraging foreign investment and welcoming the support of friendly countries.

The chief minister said Balochistan had abundant reserves of gold, copper, iron, marble and several other valuable minerals and investors could make profitable investment in these sectors.

He expressed interest in heavy machine-making industry of Belarus because the province had a wide, rugged terrain.

Belarusian-made tractors were very popular in Balochistan, he said.

The Belarusian ambassador offered the Balochistan government joint ventures in manufacturing heavy machinery in Balochistan after setting up plants and said he would make a recommendation to his government for the purpose.

Mr Ermolovich showed keen interest in marble and other mineral products of the province and said his country would explore the possibilities of importing them.

The ambassador invited Nawab Zehri to visit Belarus along with lawmakers and businessmen of Balochistan and the chief minister accepted the offer.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2016