Business news

MOSCOW, 1 November (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia’s Primorsky Territory will consider the possibility of setting up an enterprise in the Russian region to assemble Belarusian tractors and other agricultural machines. The agreement was reached as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Igor Petrishenko met with Acting Governor of Primorsky Territory Andrei Tarasenko in Moscow on 1 November, BelTA has learned.

The sides discussed the state and prospects of development of trade, economic, and cultural cooperation between Belarus and Primorsky Territory. Igor Petrishenko noted that despite the geographical distance and the complicated logistics schemes for delivering cargoes the volume of Belarus’ trade with Primorsky Territory had risen in comparison with the previous year. “The economic potential of Belarus and Primorsky Territory, the resources and opportunities the two sides have, the Russian government’s policy in favor of rapid development of the Far East allow one to hope that we will raise the mutual trade volume to $30 million next year if not in 2017,” said the ambassador.

Igor Petrishenko also suggested using the experience of getting Belarusian companies involved in the design and construction of housing, industrial installations, social and sport facilities, the construction and modernization of automobile roads, the accomplishment of rural population centers, and the implementation of investment projects, including in special economic areas, which are emerging in Primorsky Territory.

Andrei Tarasenko talked about the steady demand for Belarusian agricultural machines, haul trucks, utility vehicles, road construction machines, civil engineering machines, food, and consumer goods in Primorsky Territory. The acting governor mentioned interest in increasing the volume and expanding the choice of purchases of Belarusian machines and equipment, including within the framework of the Far East Hectare program. He also mentioned interest in the development of distribution networks of Belarusian companies with a view to selling food, light industry and processing industry products. Interest in joint ventures and assembly enterprises with a high level of localization and the simultaneous development of sales and aftersales service was noted, too.

The sides agreed to work together to consider the possibility of starting the assembly of Belarusian tractors and other agricultural machines in Primorsky Territory, sales of passenger vehicles, advancement of cooperation in industrialized housing construction, pedigree animal husbandry, fur farming, joint development of underground resources, sales of machines and vehicles for mining companies and amelioration work.