Kostanay interested in Belarusian agricultural equipment, assembly projects

MINSK, 26 February (BelTA) - Kostanay Region of Kazakhstan is interested in Belarusian agricultural equipment and in setting up joint assembly plants on its territory, Governor of Kostanay Region Nuraly Saduakasov told reporters after the meeting with First Vice Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko and Vice Premier Mikhail Rusyi, BelTA learned.

Kostanay Region uses more than 8,000 tractors, of which almost 30% are tractors of Minsk Tractor Plant (MTZ trademark). "We have an interest in a wide range of farm machines, MTZ tractors. This equipment is easy to maintain, it is understandable for us. Given our large territory, we have our eyes on different classes of MTZ tractors - from the base model MTZ-80/82 to high-power MTZ-1221/1222,” the Governor said. In this regard, consideration is being given to the establishment of assembly facilities in Kostanay Region. "We have a huge territory, three climatic zones, so we need good equipment and good maintenance service. All that we see in Belarus,” he said. Soon a delegation of MTZ will travel to Kostanay Region to discuss all these issues in detail.

In addition, Kostanay Region is interested in Belarusian robotic equipment for dairy farms. Such equipment is produced in Grodno Oblast. Grodno and Kostanay regions are set to sign an agreement on regional cooperation.

Summing up, Mikhail Rusyi noted that the parties are working within the framework of the assignments given by the Presidents of Belarus and Kazakhstan to increase the trade in the Customs Union. Belarus has been granted an opportunity to participate in the Road Map of Kazakhstan. “We had a serious conversation. We identified concrete proposals to increase the trade between Belarus and Kostanay Oblast. Last year it made up $46 million. This is very low and does not reflect the full potential of our territories, our opportunities,” Mikhail Rusyi said. To enhance cooperation, the Belarusian government will create conditions for the development of cooperation between the regions of the two countries. Belarus is ready to offer Kostanay Region not only tractors but also the entire system of farm machines, a wide range of technologies, the Vice Prime Minister stressed.

For Belarus Kostanay Region is of great interest. This is first of all wheat, Mikhail Rusyi said. In this connection, the parties have agreed to discuss in detail the approaches to selection of durum wheat. “Maybe we will even create co-production. We will process Kazakh wheat and offer it to consumers in the European Union. Such a project would complement the economies of Belarus and Kazakhstan,” said the Vice Premier. The parties agreed to hold the next meeting in April. The working groups will identify specific solutions, and commercial approaches.