The third session of the Russia-Pakistan Government Committee for Trade and Scientific Cooperation

28 November 2014

On the photo: Vitaly Mutko and Mohammad Ishaq Dar

The third session of the Russia-Pakistan Government Committee for Trade and Scientific Cooperation took place in Moscow under the chairmanship of Vitaly Mutko, Russian Minister for Sports, and Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Finance of Pakistan, on November 28, 2014.

Mr. Mutko is the co-chairman of the Committee from Russian side and Mr. Dar is the co-chairman of the Committee from Pakistani side.

In the course of the session a broad range of issues related to bilateral cooperation was discussed.
It was observed that Russia-Pakistan partnership developed under uneasy circumstances. In 2013 bilateral trade increased by purely symbolic 1% to $ 547,1 million. But in 2014 Russia-Pakistani trade reduced considerably to the total of $ 379,7 million after the 3d quarter having plunged by 16% compared to the respective period last year. Russian export to Pakistan totaled $ 118,1 million, down 25%, Russian import from Pakistan was not above $ 261,6 million, down 11%.

Both parties agreed that to rectify the situation serious steps must be taken. Among priorities are several joint energy and infrastructure projects, cooperation in the realms of metallurgy, broadcasting media, supplies of Russian civil aircraft and helicopters, import of Pakistani agricultural products into Russia.

In conclusion of the session Mr. Mutko underlined that Russia-Pakistan cooperation had a huge potential and good prospects. It was also noted that the Russian Federation favored Pakistan’s joining Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a full-member.

Both parties signed the Final protocol of the Third session of the Russia-Pakistan Government Committee for Trade and Scientific Cooperation.