Business news

MINSK, 1 December (BelTA) – We will send representatives of Belarusian major companies to Tajikistan to study the possibilities for setting up new joint ventures, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon who is on a working visit to Belarus, BelTA has learned.

The Belarusian president stressed that he thought a lot about the way the two countries need to develop relations. “The situation in your country has improved, including thanks to the great relations with your neighbors, especially with Uzbekistan. There are no more problems in transit. At least, they are being addressed effectively,” he said.

“I believe that we need something that would become a true foundation of our relations. This is, of course, the economic sector,” the Belarusian leader said. “I will send representatives of our largest companies, and we will try to set up joint ventures in Tajikistan, which will work both for the market of Tajikistan and third countries. I think we should discuss the idea and give relevant instructions,” said the president. He believes that the two countries could work together in the Afghanistan market, and set up manufacturing facilities there.

As for politics and diplomacy, the head of state said that the two countries share similar positions. "We have always come to an agreement. We have responded to every your call, recommendation, or request. When I ask you, you are always punctual and do everything scrupulously. I wish to have such relations with everyone,” he said.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that Tajikistan's economy is already recovering from the crisis which affected Belarus as well. He also asked Emomali Rahmon to talk more of his country’s transition from hydrocarbons to local fuels and clean energy. “We would like to learn how you did it,” he said.

The head of state noted that since the Soviet times he has had good impressions about Tajikistan and its capital Dushanbe. This attitude has strengthened after he visited the country as president. “We are old friends. I really love Tajikistan. I visited your country, got familiar with your agricultural industry, your manufacturing companies, a powerful aluminum mill,” Alexander Lukashenko noted. “I have been to many places in the world but I have not seen such beautiful nature. I sincerely wish that our relationship between the people of Tajikistan and Belarus were as beautiful,” the Belarusian leader noted.

More than 15 Belarusian companies including BelAZ, MAZ, MTZ, Amkodor, Gomselmash and Bobruiskagromash have their distribution network entities in Tajikistan.

The main bilateral project is the development of the MTZ and Bobruiskagromash joint facility to assemble tractors, mounted and trailed equipment at the Agrotechservice company in the city of Hisor. The facility assembles Belarus-82.1 tractors, dump trailers and semitrailers. Plans have been made to increase the product line to more than 10 models of agricultural and special-purpose equipment. The facility was launched in November 2017.