Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 11 July (BelTA) – Belarus will implement a brand new concept to promote machines and vehicles to the Russian market. The concept relies heavily on signing special investment contracts, BelTA learned from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Igor Petrishenko during the government conference held on 11 July to discuss Belarus’ foreign policy priorities in modern times.

According to the source, the new concept will allow stabilizing tax conditions for the enterprises that assemble Belarusian machines and vehicles in Russia. In his words, the first contract of the kind has been signed in Russia’s Tatarstan to assemble MTZ vehicles. There are plans to launch a new line to make vehicle cabs. There are also plans to create a Belarusian industrial cluster in Tatarstan with consequent deep localization of products of Minsk Motor Plant.

Igor Petrishenko said that Russia is increasing its capacity to build tractors, including in association with foreign partners. “There is no doubt there is a demand for our tractors. In 2016 MTZ tractors accounted for 85% of all the new wheeled tractors Russia imported. It is now important to secure our strategic grasp on the market primarily via our assembly enterprises,” stressed the ambassador.

Igor Petrishenko reminded that the presence of Belarusian products on the Russian market is still strong. The share of Belarusian products in Russia’s total import rose from 5.1% in April 2016 to 5.4% in April 2017. “We’ve occupied our niches on the market, we’ve localized the assembly enterprises. At present it is necessary to use various advantages to win the game such as subsidies, preferential lending programs, guaranteed tax conditions, and other instruments,” said the ambassador.