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Cuban PM discusses promising areas of cooperation with Belarusian MTZ
MINSK, 11 November (BelTA) - The Cuban delegation headed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz assessed Belarusian tractors and got familiar with the history of the Minsk Tractor Plant (MTZ trademark) during a visit to the enterprise on 11 November. The parties also outlined a number of promising areas of cooperation, BelTA has learned.
The delegation was shown the lineup of the machinery, including power tillers, mini-tractors, small-sized and universal tillage tractors, a model with a front loader, as well as general-purpose machinery.
The prime minister of Cuba was interested in the Belarus 622 small-size tractor and Belarus 1523.3 general-purpose tractor. Manuel Marrero Cruz asked MTZ Director General Vitaly Vovk about the characteristics of these vehicles, and whether it was possible to produce them in Cuba.
According to the MTZ director general, the possibility of assembly production in Cuba is under consideration. Since MTZ machinery uses domestic engines from Minsk Motor Plant [MMZ], it is possible to work out the production of machines for various purposes, he explained.
The delegation was taken on a tour of the museum of the enterprise, the exposition of which consists of two parts: documents related to the history of the enterprise, and rarity machinery displayed on the open area.
MTZ has operated on the Cuban market virtually since the day of the plant's foundation, Mikhail Kadnikov, MTZ Deputy Director General for Marketing, said. “The fleet of machinery, which is now present in Cuba, testifies to the fact. It amounts to 75,000 tractors, of which more than 45,000 are Belarusian-made. Many vehicles have already worn out,” he said.
Because of a big amount of old machinery in the country there is a need for its overhaul and restoration. “There is a plant in the city of Holguin. It is a large and specialized enterprise. We are considering the possibility of using it to restore and repair machinery that is in use or no longer in operation. There is a lot of such machinery, and thus it will be useful to engage in capital restoration of tractors in Cuba,” Mikhail Kadnikov said. According to him, MTZ has also developed projects to assemble small-sized machinery for small farms. The plant is also considering the possibility of barter.
According to the marketing director, Cuba may be interested in machinery that is already used for growing crops, rice, as well as for working with sugar cane, which occupies half of Cuba's agricultural land. Cuban partners may also be interested in large machinery for transportation work.
Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz arrived in Belarus on an official visit on 9 November. He held meetings with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, heads of both chambers of the Belarusian parliament and members of the working group of the National Assembly for cooperation with the Cuban parliament. Today, the Cuban delegation is visiting Belarusian enterprises.
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