MOSCOW, 20 October (BelTA) – Russia’s Stavropol Territory is interested in building a factory to assemble Belarusian tractors. The assembly factory was discussed at a meeting between Ambassador of Belarus to Russia Dmitry Krutoi and Stavropol Territory Governor Vladimir Vladimirov on 20 October. The meeting was first in a series of events during the ambassador’s visit to Stavropol, BelTA learned from the press service of the diplomatic mission.
The parties pointed to the growth in trade between Belarus and Stavropol Territory: by the end of the year it is expected to hit $0.5 billion. The ambassador and the governor agreed that in order to fulfill the tasks set by the leaders of the two countries, it is necessary to move from a trade-focused cooperation strategy to a partnerships-based model.
“More than half of the region’s tractors and over 10% of combines were made in Belarus. The governor is interested in creating a factory to assemble Belarusian tractors in the region that can be sold throughout the south of Russia (the region borders on eight territorial entities of the Russian Federation). The region is ready to provide the best sites, all the necessary infrastructure and preferences in Stavropol, as well as in Mineralnye Vody and Nevinnomyssk. Dmitry Krutoi enthusiastically upheld the proposal of Vladimir Vladimirov, and also asked to consider the possibilities for assembling various types of equipment on the chassis of Minsk Automobile Plant,” the press service said.
Dmitry Krutoi and Vladimir Vladimirov also discussed in detail the upgrade of passenger transport, including one of the oldest tram lines in Russia, which is in Pyatigorsk. “Belarusians are ready to participate in projects, Stavropol residents are waiting for our equipment to be put into trial operation,” the press service noted. In addition, agriculture also featured large in the agenda of the meeting, specifically beet seeds, compound feed, biogenetics, breeding, seedlings and turnkey gardens.