Business news

DUSHANBE, 29 September (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and his Tajikistan’s counterpart Emomali Rahmon have agreed on further development of industrial cooperation in Tajikistan. The two presidents discussed the issue during their visit to the tractor assembly plant in the Tajik city of Hisor on 29 September, BelTA informs.

The heads of state were taken on a tour of the production area of ​​the enterprise, its new workshop, where tractors destined for the delivery to Afghanistan are assembled. The presidents were briefed that all the previously-made instructions for the development of production had been carried out. The parties also agreed on taxation matters in order to increase the competitiveness of jointly produced products.

According to Emomali Rahmon, it is necessary to develop industrial cooperation and assemble not only tractors, but also other equipment, including combine harvesters, utility machinery with the possibility of subsequent export to third countries.

Director General of Minsk Tractor Plant Fyodor Domotenko updated the presidents on the prospects of production localization in Hisor and the obtaining of certificates for carrying out works in Tajikistan. These pertain to the joint production of attachments and the expansion of the lineup. Next season, the plant may launch the assembling of self-propelled mountain mowers for Tajikistan. The equipment is developed by Belarusian designers.

The president of Tajikistan suggested using not only the site in Hisor but also sites in Dushanbe where there are necessary labor resources.

The heads of state also spoke with the workers that include both Tajiks and Belarusians.

Emomali Rahmon was given a certificate for Belarus 82.1 tractor as a gift.

Fyodor Domotenko told the media that the assembly plant has three production lines. “Almost the entire range of tractors can be assembled at this plant. One of the production lines will be used for the exports outside Tajikistan. The equipment will be assembled from MTZ tractor sets. This will be the product made in Tajikistan,” the general director said.

A contract for the delivery of 300 tractors has been signed Tajikistan and Afghanistan. “We can also predict more contracts in the future. Since internal taxation issues have been regulated, we can expect the exports of thousands of tractors,” said Fyodor Domotenko.

The parties are also talking over new production areas to step up industrial cooperation, increase the level of localization and the production of attachments. “The instruction was given to Gomselmash to join the project if there is a need for it,” the general director noted.

MTZ and Bobruiskagromash have been implementing a project of assembling tractors, attached and trailed equipment in Hisor. The project is included by the Government of Tajikistan in the list of facilities of utmost importance. The project also includes the development of a center to train technical specialists for the maintenance and operation of Belarusian agricultural machinery.