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Belarus, Russia’s Tambov Oblast to cooperate in drone production
MINSK, 29 August (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia’s Tambov Oblast have plans to cooperate in the production of equipment and drones, Tambov Oblast Governor Maxim Yegorov told reporters after his meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, BelTA has learned.
“We have a production site. European tractors used to be assembled there. They [the European partners] left. It was even before the introduction of sanctions. We have agreed today that we will start from SKD assembly, and after that we might localize production [of Belarusian equipment]. In addition to agricultural equipment, we might as well assemble buses,” the Russian governor said.
According to the head of state, it is necessary to move more actively from trade to cooperation in manufacturing and to concentrate efforts on import substitution. This will ensure technological independence and security. “According to the information I have, after meeting with our ambassador to Russia in April this year, you suggested using production premises of the joint stock company Tambovspetsmash to implement joint projects. I would like to know what kind of equipment you are going to produce together with us, what results have already been achieved, what needs to be done, and what we will do next,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Tambov Oblast is also interested in cooperation in the field of unmanned aircraft. “Yesterday there was an exploratory visit, a discussion. A fairly large number of enterprises in Tambov Oblast are engaged in production of unmanned aircraft for farmers. There is something to work on. Both Tambov Oblast and Belarus have interesting technology in this field,” said Maxim Yegorov.
According to him, Russia is launching a national project on unmanned aerial vehicles, and the region’s companies expect to get in on. Drones can be used to monitor farmland and apply fertilizers. There is also interest in unmanned systems that help operate agricultural machinery. This matter was discussed yesterday during the visit of the Russian delegation to Minsk Tractor Works.
Maxim Yegorov stated that a large number of Belarusian equipment are used by the agricultural sector and the housing and utility sector of Tambov Oblast. The withdrawal of a number of foreign manufacturers due to sanctions ginned up an even greater interest in Belarus-made machinery and vehicles. “We are confident that the unique enterprises that were founded back in Soviet times in cooperation with various regions will be able to meet our equipment needs. We are already negotiating the purchase of equipment - buses, agricultural machinery, municipal vehicles,” the governor said.
Maxim Yegorov pointed to the interest in electric vehicles - trolleybuses, electric buses. “We are also interested in this. Perhaps, we will conclude some contracts to buy them. We will draw up a procurement plan around October-November so that enterprises will be able to supply these products on time. In fact, we know that many Russian regions are now buying Belarusian equipment,” Maxim Yegorov said.
According to him, Tambov Oblast and its Belarusian counterparts see eye to eye with each other on all aspects of cooperation. In the context of sanctions, it is necessary to support each other, promote cooperation and restore the level of contacts that was in the days of the Soviet Union, with an emphasis on import substitution.
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