MINSK, 12 December (BelTA) – Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ trademark) and the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) signed a memorandum of mutual understanding and cooperation. The information is posted on the website of Belarus’ Industry Ministry.
The document provides for the establishment of a plant to assemble tractors in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The African partners will soon decide on the final range of vehicle models to be assembled at the new plant. The memorandum also indicates that the joint project will be implemented through public-private partnership.
During the visit to Minsk Tractor Works, the delegation of Mpumalanga Province was briefed about the production process and the new models of Belarus vehicles. Premier of Mpumalanga Province David Dabede Mabuza tested Belarus-4522, the most powerful tractor in the range that is currently on offer. “Our province is mostly agrarian, and Belarus equipment is of great interest to us. Minsk Tractor Works can consider South Africa as a springboard to the markets of our neighboring countries, such as Mozambique and Swaziland,” David Dabede Mabuza noted.
MTZ Director General Fyodor Domotenko assured the African delegation that the Belarusian enterprise will provide full engineering and consulting support to the new project in South Africa. Active work on its implementation will start as early as in January 2017.
Mpumalanga is a province in northeastern South Africa. Agriculture plays an important role in the economy of the region. The major crops are corn, wheat, sorghum, barley, sunflower and soybean. The tractor fleet of South Africa is estimated at 70,000 units. The first batch of Belarus vehicles was delivered to the country in 1993.