Karankevich: Belarus is ready to increase engineering supplies to Russia’s Sakhalin
MINSK, 29 October (BelTA) — Belarus is ready to increase the supplies of engineering goods and food products to Sakhalin Oblast of Russia, Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Karankevich said during a meeting with Governor of Sakhalin Oblast Valery Limarenko in Minsk on 29 October, BelTA has learned.
«I am happy to welcome you to the government of Belarus. We have experience of joint fruitful results-oriented work. Among the joint projects is the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant. We are ready to discuss issues of interest to you, outline promising areas. It is important to make full use of the potential of cooperation with Sakhalin Oblast. There is still something to strive for. There is no doubt that the current visit will consolidate the trend towards rapprochement and integration of our economies,» Viktor Karankevich said.
He described mutual trade and cooperation in the manufacturing sector as one of the promising areas. «Belarus has the necessary competencies and resources to supply mining equipment, trucks, utility, logging and road-building vehicles to the region made by BelAZ, MAZ, MTZ, Amkodor and others. These engineering goods meet the international standards,» the deputy prime minister stressed.
In July of this year, BelAZ signed an agreement with Russian partners to supply 130-tonne hybrid dump trucks running on hydrogen for its trial operation on Sakhalin.
«The Belarusian manufacturer is the first in the world to come up with such a vehicle, and it is Sakhalin that will become the first site for its trial run. It is pleasant to note that the share of BelAZ mining trucks in the region is 94%. This year, 11 mining dump trucks with a carrying capacity of 220 tonnes have already been delivered to the region. We are ready to provide your agricultural industry with tractors and other farm machines. We can deliver the entire line of equipment using fairly comfortable financial instruments of the Development Bank of Belarus,» Viktor Karankevich said.
Belarus also has good achievements in terms of innovative machinery and equipment: vehicles for fire and emergency units, crew buses, mobile offices based on MAZ chassis, unmanned aerial vehicles, etc.
Cooperation in passenger transportation remains relevant as well. “Given the positive experience of cooperation, we are ready to supply modern buses, including those running on gas motor fuel, school buses, low-floor buses to ensure a barrier-free environment, and also electric buses, which have proved efficient both in Belarus and Russia,” the deputy prime minister said.
He also put forward a proposal to actively involve the Belarusian plant Mogilevliftmash in tenders for the purchase of elevator equipment.
Another promising area is mutual food supplies. “We are ready to increase both the lineup and volume of Belarusian food supplies and are interested in direct supplies of your fish products and seafood,” Viktor Karankevich said.
Belarus sees good reserves for deepening cooperation in the agro-industrial complex, as well as opportunities to exchange experience, technologies and specialists. The deputy prime minister suggested considering the accumulated experience and technologies in seed production, training of specialists in the agricultural sector. Belarus is interested in continuing cooperation in terms of supplying necessary equipment to agricultural complexes and dairy farms. Belarus is ready to meet the needs of Sakhalin Oblast in veterinary drugs, mixed fodder of various applications — for cattle, birds, fish.
Belarusian enterprises produce a wide range of building and finishing materials that can be used for the needs of the construction industry of Sakhalin Oblast.
The countries are also developing cooperation on environmental issues. Belarus is ready to offer modern technologies and equipment for water purification, water treatment, water sanitation, and also for sorting and processing of municipal solid waste.
«This list does not include all promising areas. Belarus is interested in stable presence in the Sakhalin Oblast market in all areas of cooperation. I am confident that following our talks we will find new opportunities and ways to intensify bilateral cooperation,» Viktor Karankevich summarized.
For his part, Valery Limarenko said that Sakhalin Oblast had purchased 900 units of Belarusian machinery over nine years. «We want all road passenger transport environmentally friendly. We prefer gas-powered transport. You have won a tender; we have purchased a large batch and will continue to work with you,» he stated.
