By Yuri Butrimovich
A Belarusian governmental delegation visited Mongolia, headed by PM Mikhail Myasnikovich, for early September’s Belarusian-Mongolian Business Forum, hosted by the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. A range of contracts, worth over $31m, were signed to supply technologies and spare parts, medicines and confectioneries. The PM noted, “This will be a good contribution to our trade turnover.” Mutual trade between Belarus and Mongolia is steadily rising, reaching $112m last year. According to the PM, it may double next year.
In line with our latest agreements, BelAZ JSC is to supply six heavy-duty dump trucks to Mongolia, worth $10m, as well as spare parts. Sixteen heavy-duty dump trucks (boasting 55 and 130 tonne load capacity) will also be dispatched, under international leasing conditions. The Belarusian-Mongolian Business Forum demonstrated that Minsk Tractor Works’ machinery is enjoying stable demand in Asia. Contracts signed in Ulaanbaatar are worth around $8m for the Belarusian enterprise, paying for 300 tractors.
According to MTZ Director General Vladimir Volchek, the first tractors will be supplied this month, with further deliveries scheduled for 2014. He notes that other agreements have been signed, explaining, “Mongolia lacks modern technologies, so the task is to remedy this, including supplies of Belarusian agro and industrial machinery — such as for municipal facilities.” Ten MAZ urban buses are also being supplied under international leasing conditions and Belarus and Mongolia have agreed to set up joint ventures to assemble Belarusian MAZ JSC and Minsk Tractor Works JSC machinery.
It’s no secret that these companies’ innovations are well-known in Mongolia; they’ve been in use since Soviet days, with some old models of tractors and trucks still running, despite the harsh climate. According to the Industry Ministry, Minsk Tractor Works plans to set up a joint venture with the Mongolian Defence Industry, assembling new technologies and offering maintenance to the operational fleet, including training of local experts. MAZ is to set up assembly of passenger buses also, with the Mongolian Defence Industry; designs are to be modified to suit local climatic conditions.
