The State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus said Monday that Belarus and Bangladesh will be expanding joint ventures in science and technological sectors.

The announcement comes shortly after the first session of the intergovernmental commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The nature of this collaboration will aim to bring high-tech ventures to both economies in areas that include health care, microbiology and pharmaceuticals.

Discussions at the Bangladesh meeting included increased levels of cooperation between academic and research institutions in both countries, such as making pre-university courses available to Bangladesh students at the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics.

The Belarus delegation was led by State Science and Technology Committee Piotir Baltrukovish. While he was in Bangladesh, Baltrukovish visited the country's scientific and research-intensive facilities including the National Biotechnology Institute, the University of Dhaka and the National Institute for Chemical Metrology.

Several documents relating to intergovernmental cooperation were signed at the meeting.