By Vladimir Samsonov
Zhodino BelAZ vehicles have been operational for some time in Kuzbass, comprising half of our Belarusian exports to the region. Moreover, just for Kemerovo residents, the Belarusian auto giant has created a 450-tonne heavy-duty dump truck: the biggest in the world, as officially registered by The Guinness Book of Records. Delivery to the Kemerovo miners has been delayed as a consequence, but they have expressed full understanding, knowing that world prestige is important to the manufacturer and consumer alike.
The vehicle-champion is awaited with impatience at the open-cast mine in Chernigovets. Recently, during a delegation visit from the Kemerovo Region to Zhodino, First Deputy Governor Maxim Makin couldn’t resist sitting on the huge tyre, being delighted by the vehicle. After visiting BelAZ, he noted that his Kemerovo Region delegation is full of ideas for co-operation with the enterprise, ready for discussion with the government of Belarus.
The Kemerovo Region is among the ten largest trading partners of Belarus within the Russian Federation. If not this year, then next, Belarus and the Kemerovo Region could see $1bn turnover: a threefold rise on 2013, when over $330m of sales were registered. “We have every reason to expect this, based on our economic potential, and on our high level of trust and mutual support,” notes Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich.
Belarus has transferred documentation on the manufacture of 90-tonne BelAZ trucks to its partners and is ready to share its expertise on making 130 and 160-tonne heavy-duty dump trucks.
