Eurasian Economic Union And Pakistan-Belarus Free Trade Engagements – OpEd

http://www.eurasiareview.com/30112015-eurasian-economic-union-and-pakistan-belarus-free-trade-engagements-oped/ 

BY NASURULLAH BROHI NOVEMBER 30, 2015

The newly created Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) has shortly got the momentum as an economic hub for the countries of the region. The EEU includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia as its members, whereas; the Organization is a continuation of contemplation for establishing the integration projects by the Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia since 2007. The Organization fundamentally promotes the ideas of streamlining the flow and transportation of services and goods between the member states, therefore, it greatly attracts the interests of many stakeholders and according to the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, many international organizations and the economic giants like China has shown great interest in the creation of free trade zones through the EEU.

The present political and economic importance of the South and Central Asian region along with free trade and economic potential across the Eurasian region greatly appeals almost every regional and international country, whether may they be developed or developing nation seems eager to come in bilateral and multilateral engagements with these organizations and the states in the region. The cooperation that is vital to the many states’ national interests consists of the fields of security, economic, energy, bilateral, free trade, scientific education and cultural interactions. Most particularly, the Russian Federation and China have leading ambitious roles in region’s economic and infrastructural developments. In addition, the growing significance of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the present scenario has further enabled China and Russia to become a dominant player on the global economic and political arena. This in turn has also provided small or developing nations to benefit from the mutual benefit efforts of the SCO, EEU and other forums for their industrialization and national economic development goals.

The security issues in Afghanistan are the main obstruction in EUU’s direct trade with South Asia. Alternatively, there are two other options which connect the free trade activities with the regional market either through the North¬-South corridor between Russia¬, Iran and India by way of the Caspian and then the Arabian Sea and or the China¬ Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Pakistan is also ardent to benefit from the free trade engagements of the EEU and willing to sign free trade agreement with the EUU. Given its geopolitical location, Pakistan could gain huge economic and trade benefits. Pakistan has also offered Belarus to sign a Potential Trade Agreement (PTA) to facilitate trade connections between the two countries.

Belarus is a landlocked and one of the most industrialized countries located in the heart of the Europe and because of its significant geographic position Pakistan could achieve better access to the Eurasian and Eastern European markets through its free trade engagements with Belarus and the EEU. In addition, both the countries can also generate huge revenues through the industrial cooperation, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and other trade cooperation, therefore, for the reason Pakistan has invited the Belarusian side for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and hopefully both the countries will soon reach the accord. Apart from that, the Belarus has also a Custom Union with the Russian Federation and the Kazakhstan which is a growing free trade entity and a major trading partner of the near future. Pakistan also zealously seeks Belarusian support for Pakistan’s entry in the EUU and later on conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The bilateral trade between both countries also demands increase and Pakistan’s exports to Belarus in 2014 were only $15.23 million. Despite of the fact that there are immense bilateral economic opportunities for the two sides, but its need of hour to explore the variety of ways for further extending their bilateral trade relationship as Pakistan has exceptional potential to meet Belarusian demands of textile, food commodities, chemicals and many other domestic products. Whereas, Pakistan can also benefit from the Belarusian industrial expertise and it can import tractors, synthetic fiber, and oil and energy resources. Besides vast trade and development opportunities there is a dire need of cultural interactions and educational exchanges.

Other than its extraordinary trade and economic potential, the EEU also faces the challenges to its further enhanced role and enlargement, though it has been unsuccessful in integrating the former Soviet satellite states but still it seems eager to attain this goal. The Organization however needs to strictly ensure its political sovereignty otherwise, the objectives of rapid expansion in current geopolitical scenario despite of lack of any reasonable framework and structure makes EEU prone to make it a partial success like its predecessors.