By Grigory Veremeev
“We’re interested in involving foreign investors in the development of the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park. Our people will make up the bulk of its workforce but the Park may employ foreign managers or engineering specialists from China and elsewhere,” Mr. Batura emphasises.
In late November, he visited the city of Guangzhou at the invitation of Guangdong Province’s Governor, Zhu Xiaodan. Mr. Batura held a presentation on the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park and took part in the Guangdong International Exchange and Co-operation Week, which gathered heads of 18 regions from across the world. “I reported on opportunities at the Park and the advantages of investing in the Minsk Region for those from the Guangdong Province and beyond. In January, we’ll host another presentation on the Park in the Guangdong Province, and, next year, Belarus will host the Week of the Guangdong Province,” he tells us, adding, “At present, we’re designing the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park, including external and internal infrastructure. By May-June 2013, the first production facility should be commissioned.”
The China Development Bank and the Company to Develop Industrial Parks JSC have signed a framework agreement to finance the first stage of the construction project — worth $1.5bn. Total investments are estimated at $5.6bn, with construction in the Smolevichi District due to be completed within 30 years.
The major objective of the Park is to attract foreign and domestic investments while providing assistance to high-tech and competitive production and creating new jobs (aiding socio-economic development). The major focus is on attracting companies involved in fine chemistry, bio-medicine, electronic engineering and mechanical engineering.
The Chinese-Belarusian Industrial Park is an administrative-territory covering about 80sq.km, offering favourable long-term tax privileges for businesses, encouraging investment. Necessary infrastructure is ensured for business development, and one-stop procedures enable companies to register and operate without wasting undue time on formalities.
