Belarus and the Moscow oblast are working on ways to increase supplies of Belarusian machines, Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Oblast Government Vasily Gromov told a session of the working group on cooperation between Belarus and the Moscow oblast on 9 September.

Vasily Gromov stated that due to the global crisis the mutual trade between Belarus and the Moscow oblast has shrunk. While in 2008 it totaled $2.7 billion, in H1 2009 the figure reached only $818 million. “In order to counteract the situation, ways to boost supplies of automobiles, tractors, agricultural and road machines to the Moscow oblast are being worked out. The possibility of opening service centers for these machines is under consideration,” he said.

The sides pay increasing attention to developing manufacturing cooperation, setting up joint enterprises, investments into joint projects. According to Vasily Gromov, the promotion of manufacturing cooperation ties between MAZ and Moscow oblast enterprises for the sake of manufacturing special machines has been productive. The programme for designing electronically-controlled diesel engine fuel systems as well as for supplying locomotives, diesel engines and other products is being successfully implemented. Investment cooperation is developing, too. Technical centers of Minsk Tractor Works, Minsk Automobile Plant have already been deployed in the Moscow oblast. Paperwork for the sites where logistics and trading centers of Belarusneftegaz will be placed is being done.

According to Vasily Gromov, it is advisable to consider setting up joint assembly enterprises. The possibility has been touched upon multiple times due to changes in lending for purchases of special and agricultural machines. “We have already suggested building an assembly enterprise in Noginsk with assistance of MTZ. In Noginsk there is already an enterprise which produces fuel pumps for tractors,” said the official. “I think we should revise it once again”. Many Moscow oblast companies are ready to negotiate setting up a joint venture with Belarusian partners, he added.

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