The first India-Belarus Consular Dialogue, held in Minsk on June 28, 2024, marks a significant milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries. The talks, which focused on various consular issues, aimed to strengthen cooperation and address mutual concerns.
Dialogue focus areas
The dialogue covered a wide range of consular issues with a special focus on the welfare of Indian students in Belarus. There is a large number of Indian students in Belarus pursuing higher education and their welfare and support system were a major concern. They also explored strategies to promote tourism between the two countries, recognising the potential for cultural exchange and economic benefits.
Highlighting the breadth of the talks, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, in a press release issued on Tuesday (2 July 2024), said, “The dialogue focused on a full range of consular issues, ranging from welfare of Indian students in Belarus to promotion of bilateral tourism.”
The Indian delegation was headed by Aman Puri, Joint Secretary (Consular, Passport and Visa) in the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Belarusian delegation was headed by Andrey Kojan, Director General of the Consular Department at the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition to the consular dialogue, the Indian delegation also met senior officials of the Belarusian Ministry of Sports and Tourism. These meetings were aimed at exploring opportunities for cooperation in the fields of sports and tourism, which were identified as potential areas for enhanced cooperation.
In addition, the delegation met with representatives of the Indian student community in Belarus. This interaction provided a forum for students to directly air their concerns and experiences to the Indian authorities, ensuring that their issues were resolved quickly and effectively.
The two sides promised to review the progress at the next India-Belarus Consular Dialogue scheduled to be held in New Delhi at a mutually convenient date.
“The first ever Consular Dialogue between India and Belarus was held in Minsk on June 28, 2024. The Indian delegation was led by Dr. Aman Puri (JS, CPV). Both sides discussed consular issues and the possibility of initiating new initiatives to further strengthen ties between our peoples,” the Indian Embassy in Belarus shared on social media.
The consular dialogue comes against the backdrop of developing bilateral relations between India and Belarus. In May, Belarus’ Ambassador to India Mikhail Kasko expressed his country’s support for India’s “Make in India” and “Smart Cities” initiatives. He highlighted continued cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, with prominent Indian companies like Cipla investing in joint ventures in Belarus.
Ambassador Casco highlighted the strong trade and economic ties between the two countries. Tourism has also emerged as a key area of interest, with both countries seeing an increase in tourists visiting each other’s countries.
