By Vladimir Khromov
Automobile and agricultural machinery plants (MAZ-KamAZ and Gomselmash-Rostselmash) are due to open in 2013, alongside microelectronics enterprises, scientific centres and companies producing mineral fertilisers.
Belarus’ First Deputy Prime Minister, Vladimir Semashko, asserts that all the existing sites are ‘fully operational, stable and functioning perfectly’ while being regularly modernised. Mr. Dvorkovich has been invited to tour all the plants, having seen the exhibition centre at Gomselmash Production Association, its major assembly line and central design bureau.
The President of the Russian Association of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers, Rosagromash, and the co-owner of Rostselmash JSC, Konstantin Babkin, have already shown interest in collaborating with the Belarusian company. Negotiations have taken place at Grodno Azot JSC regarding interaction between the joint stock company and Russian companies.
In Minsk, Mr. Dvorkovich also visited MAZ, in his role as co-ordinator of projects from the Russian side. Mr. Semashko will be doing the same for Belarus. Mr. Dvorkovich tells us, “We’ve agreed that, in the coming weeks, intensive negotiations will be conducted across all areas, primarily regarding major projects, such as the integration of MAZ and KamAZ, alongside possible integration of Grodno Azot with a Russian company.”
Although the Russian Deputy Prime Minister hasn’t concealed the fact that major technical consultations lie ahead, he is hopeful that agreements will be swift in coming (unlike those for the establishment of BelRosAuto Holding). In particular, he stresses that ‘approaches will be combined, with companies encouraged to find ways of bringing beneficial results for both countries’.
The two sides have agreed on sci-tech interaction via the GLONASS project, being run by the Russian and Belarusian Academies of Sciences and the Skolkovo Foundation. It will discuss scientific prospects, aiding the application of theoretical research and the implementation of definite projects.
Russia and Belarus are embracing an industrial policy of long-term co-operation, creating macro-conditions for integration of their companies, following agreements reached at a recent session of the Council of Ministers of the Union State, hosted by Moscow.
