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Belarus intends to set up big trade and logistics centre in Saratov oblast

Belarus intends to set up big trade and logistics centre in the Saratov oblast. This issue was discussed during a meeting of Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky and Governor of the Saratov oblast Pavel Ipatov on September 24. During the meeting, the sides discussed the prospects of the trade and economic relations, the boosting of the trade turnover, various projects of Belarusian and Saratov oblast’s companies.

Within the framework of the visit to the Saratov oblast, Belarusian Prime Minister visited the Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant. The Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant is the biggest energy producer in Russia. Annually the plant generates more than 30 billion kWt/h. The Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant has a personnel training centre with unique equipment. Not only specialists of the Balakovo plant are trained there but personnel from other nuclear power plants of Russia, Iran, India and China. “We will be grateful to the Saratov oblast for your support in training the specialists for the future Belarusian nuclear power plant,” the Belarusian Premier noted during the visit. In turn, Governor of the Saratov oblast Pavel Ipatov noted that Belarus will be rendered all the necessary assistance in this issue.

Moreover, the sides discussed the prospects of the cooperation of Belarusian and Saratov companies. On September 24, the two sides signed a protocol on development of cooperation ties between the Engels Trolleybus Plant and a number of Belarusian companies. In line with the protocol, Belarusian companies MAZ and Belkommunmash will participate in formation of the long-term programme on renovation of the passenger transport of the Saratov oblast.

The sides will discuss the possible volume of purchases of MAZ buses to the Saratov oblast in 2009-2010. They will expand the cooperation of the Minsk Aircraft Repair Plant and the Saratov Aviation Plant in technical service of Yak-42 aircrafts.

According to specialists, the Engels Trolleybus Plant would like to set up a joint production with the Gomselmash Company to produce agricultural machinery. In January-July 2008, Gomselmash supplied agricultural machinery at the amount of $3 million to the Saratov oblast. At present, Gomselmash is considering the proposal of the Engels Trolleybus Plant. The Belkommunmash Company is ready to supply parts (power electronics, driving motors control systems) to the Engels Trolleybus Plant.

All in all, at present, more than 900 trolleybuses produced by the Engels Trolleybus plant operate in Belarus. The Russian side proposed Belarus to increase their number. In turn, Belarus would like to boost the export of MTZ and Gomselmash equipment to the Saratov oblast. The Belarusian agricultural machinery takes 20% of Saratov oblast’s fleet. There are 4 dealer centres which sell Belarusian agricultural machinery in the Saratov oblast.

During the talks, Sergei Sidorsky and Pavel Ipatov discussed the cooperation in mutual supplies of agricultural products.

According to the Belarusian Premier, the two sides have a potential to boost the bilateral trade.

Belarus’ main exports to the Saratov region are agricultural machinery, air pumps, dairy products, furnaces, electrical equipment, elevators, bearings, furniture. In January-July 2008, Belarus imported oil and oil products ($32.7 million), inorganic chemistry products ($14.7 million), mineral fertilizers ($5.7 million) from the Saratov region.

Belarus and the Saratov oblast of the Russian Federation intend to assemble Belarusian combine harvesters at the Engels –based Trolleybus Plant. This issue was discussed during a meeting of Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky and Governor of the Saratov oblast Pavel Ipatov on September 24.

Such proposal has been made by the Saratov side. According to local businessmen and the leadership of the Saratov oblast, it is more profitable to launch such assembly production on the base of the Engels Trolleybus Plant than to import the Belarusian combine harvesters.

According to director general of the Gomselmash Company Valery Zhmailik, such cooperation may have various forms. According to him, next week a team of Belarusian specialists will visit the Engels plant to study the expedience of the assembly production there. It is possible that, at first, the two sides will set up a joint venture to produce parts for Belarusian agricultural machinery.

Industry Minister of Belarus Anatoly Rusetsky noted that this year and in the future Belarus will continue to supply agricultural equipment to the Saratov oblast. The machinery will be equipped in line with the conditions of this region of the Russian Federation.

Apart from purchases of Belarusian agricultural machinery, the Saratov oblast is interested in Belarusian road and municipal vehicles. All in all, about 10 thousand Belarusian tractors will be assembled in Russia this year.

The Belarusian agricultural machinery takes 20% of Saratov oblast’s fleet. There are 4 dealer centres which sell Belarusian agricultural machinery in the Saratov oblast.

Belarus intends to significantly raise the supplies of foodstuffs to the Saratov oblast, while this Russian region will export some new products to Belarus, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Foodstuffs Mikhail Saveliev said during a meeting of Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky and Governor of the Saratov oblast Pavel Ipatov on September 24.

“We are interested in the advancement of dry milk, butter, cheese and other products to the markets of this region,” he said. Mikhail Saveliev added that the sides have reached an agreement on the direct supply of agricultural products.

The Saratov oblast expressed its willingness to sell 6-7 thousand tonnes of sunflower oil to Belarus every month.

The top officials of the Russian region were interested in the Belarusian expertise in the rural development. “Belarus has preserved the positive features of the Soviet times in the agriculture. At present, the agriculture of Belarus develops faster than that of Russia. The agricultural industry has been rather neglected in Russia for a long time. The situation began to change just 2 or 3 years ago. Belarus has established an efficient system of agricultural production and marketing. I think that we will achieve the same results, too,” the Saratov Governor noted.

Belarus is ready to provide the Saratov oblast with the standard design of rural houses, Deputy Minister of Construction and Architecture of Belarus Vladimir Malets noted during a meeting of Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky and Governor of the Saratov oblast Pavel Ipatov.

According to him, Belarus has a big base of such projects and the Saratov oblast has expanded the construction works in rural areas.

Moreover, Belarus may increase the supplies of construction materials to the Saratov oblast. In particular, this country may export 50-60 thousand tonnes of cement, equipment for construction companies, reinforced concrete framing to the Saratov oblast.

Belarusian-Vietnamese trade and economic cooperation can be enhanced

The Belarusian-Vietnamese trade and economic cooperation can be more advanced, said Vice Premier of Belarus Alexander Kosinets as he met with Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism of Vietnam Hoang Tuan Anh on September 23.

Alexander Kosinets remarked, a recent visit of the President of Belarus to Vietnam gave a new boost to the bilateral cooperation.

Year after year Belarus-Vietnam trade grows on. In 2007 it totalled $63.1 million, with the export as high as $48 million and the import as large as $15 million. Belarus mainly exports tractors, mining machines and TV sets to Vietnam and imports cotton textiles, rubber resin, exotic fruits from the country.

Alexander Kosinets believes, the figures are not the limit and the trade and economic cooperation will advance. The Vice Premier invited the Vietnamese guests to participate in investment projects as well as projects in culture, tourism, sport and education.

Vietnamese athletes will be trained by Belarusian coaches, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam Hoang Tuan Anh told reporters.

The Vietnamese side has accepted the proposal of Belarus to train the potential participants of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Belarusian coaches will provide assistance in such sports as boxing, wrestling, artistic gymnastics.

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam noted that students from Vietnam will study in Belarus. The cooperation in the education area between the two countries was established a long time ago: Belarus has a high-quality education system. An exchange of specialists, sportsmen and artists will also be carried out in the future. Apart from that, Belarusian media representatives are invited to Vietnam to introduce Belarusians to the culture and traditions of the Vietnamese people.

Belarus’ space satellite insurance value to total Br38 billion

The insurance value of the Belarusian space satellite will make up Br38 billion, Chairman of the Presidium of the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences Mikhail Myasnikovich told reporters after the session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers on September 23.

The session highlighted the 2008-2012 draft national programme on space research and use for peaceful purposes. The Presidium of the Council of Ministers approved the document.

According to Mikhail Myasnikovich, the work of the Belarusian scientists accounts for one third of the estimated Br38 billion.

The company that is to take out insurance of the space satellite will be defined after the tender, the Chairman of the NAS Presidium said.

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