Posted:
27.12.2023 17:13:00
A successful year on the Silk Road
25 new residents, an increase in export revenue by 40 percent, the construction of innovative production facilities: the head of the Great Stone administration — about the results of the project in 2023
The outgoing year 2023 has been positive for China-Belarus Industrial Park Great Stone. Despite the sanctions restrictions for Belarus, the project actively used the areas that had opened up for work, found new partners in the far arc and in the EAEU. As the Head of the Great Stone Park Administration Aleksandr Yaroshenko noted, high achievements set an even higher bar for the park in terms of development dynamics for the next year.
Confident course for export
— The year 2023 is coming to an end. Could you already sum up the preliminary results of the work of the Great Stone: how did the residents perform this year, what are the expectations for the main economic indicators?— In 2023, we will see dynamic work by our residents. This is confirmed by preliminary final statistics. We expect that this year the revenue of our residents will exceed Br1 billion. As for the output of industrial products, this figure is also growing dynamically: this year it increased by 40 percent compared to the previous one.
Moreover, supplies of products abroad have increased by 40 percent since the beginning of the year, because all our projects are export-oriented. We expect export revenues for this year to be at least $130 million. Currently, our residents supply products to 16 countries around the world. The EAEU space is the main sales market today. But our residents also ship products to the EU, the USA, and there are also clients in other countries of the world.
Significant projects
— What is the dynamics of the increase in residents over the year? What are the most significant projects you can highlight?— At the moment, 120 residents are already registered in Great Stone. In 2023, despite the fact that it is not yet ended, 25 residents were added. This is the largest number of residents ever attracted to the project in a year. But the geography of attracting projects has shrunk. Today these are Russia, China and India. At the same time, the quality component of projects is only increasing.
For example, this year we received a project in the field of high-tech machine tool construction. These are computer-controlled machines that are in demand primarily in Russia. Our resident Rontek Machine Tools and a partner from Shandong province jointly began producing products in rental premises. Construction of a plant for the production of machine tools has already begun. We expect that this plant will be erected and begin operation in 2024.
This year, a major investor came to us by the standards of not only our park, but also the country as a whole. This is the Russian company Wildberries. The new resident will build his project on a large plot of 27 hectares. In addition, a plant for the production of veterinary drugs by the Russian company Belagrogen is already under construction. We expect that this project will also be launched next year.
This year, the CarbonTechBel company from Hong Kong also came to us, which works in the field of production of carbon fibre products. This is a new type of material that we will use in the future. A landmark project for us in terms of technology.
Representatives of a large Chinese company who work in the field of medicine, actively developing 3D technologies, have joined the Great Stone. HAIHONG is a subsidiary of SINOMACH Corporation and plans to promote advanced adaptable medical projects in the field of 3D printing of medical products, including for dentistry, in Belarus.
Impetus for the development of medical services
— This year, Great Stone has noticeably intensified its work to improve conditions for the development of the medical cluster. There have also been more new residents in this sector. What are the park’s plans for 2024 in terms of simplifying legislation in the field of medicine to attract new residents?— Previously, we analysed the legislative framework regarding the production of medical equipment, drugs, as well as the provision of services and came to the conclusion that in order for residents to come to this sector, we need to improve it. We carried out this work with the Health Ministry. The Head of State also supported us — he has already signed two Decrees, thanks to which the registration procedures for medical devices have been significantly simplified.
Currently, the medical cluster in Great Stone has 26 residents. They work in the field of scientific research, production of medical drugs and products. Now, taking into account the new legislation, we plan to develop the provision of medical services on the basis of the park. This year the Centre for Expertise and Testing in Healthcare was registered as a resident. A government agency came to us with a project to create a medical centre, where it is planned to provide services in various areas, inviting patients from other countries.
It is also worth noting that citizens of our country will also soon be able, if they wish, to comfortably come to the Great Stone to receive medical services. The project for the construction of a high-speed railway from Minsk to the airport with a stop at the Great Stone is already under consideration by the state examination body. In 2024, the active stage of construction of this project will begin, which will significantly expand the city’s transport links with the industrial park.
Increase the number of residents to 140
— According to your words, we can conclude that 2023 has become a fairly positive year for the development of the industrial park. But did the Great Stone manage to achieve all its annual goals? And what are the plans for attracting residents and for the project in general in 2024?— We completed most of the tasks and were able to ensure the necessary growth dynamics. It can be stated with confidence that this year was quite successful for the Great Stone, even despite external factors. We attracted 25 residents and achieved good economic indicators. Over the first 9 months of this year, we have created more than 2,600 highly productive and highly paid jobs. We expect this figure to grow. According to investment projects, it is announced that 14.5 thousand jobs will be created, attracting investments of almost $1.5 billion.
At the same time, such results set before us an even higher bar for the development of the park. Our project should develop precisely as an environmentally friendly city of the future with innovative production of the fifth and sixth technological structures. Therefore, attracting anchor investors is one of the key tasks set for us by the Head of State and the Government. We have already attracted 4 such residents. Two of them have already exceeded the $50 million investment mark. It is important to move in the area of attracting and developing high technologies and innovations. We set such tasks for ourselves, they are being realised. In 2024, we must maintain this momentum. We also plan to increase the number of residents of the park to 140. And most importantly, to launch key production facilities that began construction this year.
By Ilya Kryzhevich
