Business news

HISOR, 14 May (BelTA) – The Belarusian assembly plant set up at Agrotechservice in Hisor, Tajikistan plans to expand its lineup, MTZ Deputy Marketing Director Alexander Kazakevich told the media, BelTA has learned.

Alexander Kazakevich named the opening of the assembly plant in Tajikistan a milestone for MTZ. “This assembly plant can produce up to 900 tractors. Our joint plans include not only the domestic market of Tajikistan, but also export markets. We plan to expand the range of tractors that are assembled here. For today, the major product is an 80hp tractor. We plan to add more powerful ones, i.e. 100 hp, 130 hp tractors, and also launch the assembling of cotton harvesting tractors,” Alexander Kazakevich said.

According to him, the company considers Afghanistan as the first target market among third countries. “This is a big and traditional market for our machinery. We will also see at how we can work together with our Tajik partners there,” said Alexander Kazakevich.

Joint plans also include the production of units, component parts in Tajikistan as part of the localization program. Alexander Kazakevich said that the situation with the availability of highly-qualified personnel is favorable. “I do not think that there will be any problems here. People are interested in getting new knowledge and work,” he said.

It is expected that Presidents Alexander Lukashenko and Emomali Rahmon will visit the company as part of an official visit of the Belarusian head of state to Tajikistan.

MTZ and Bobruiskagromash cooperate with Agrotechservice to implement in Hisor a project to launch the assembling of tractors, mounted and trailed equipment. This company has been included by the government of Tajikistan in the list of especially important facilities. The parties are mulling over to abolish VAT (18%) on jointly produced agricultural machinery in Tajikistan.

At present, the production complex includes a small assembly shop (1,100 square meters), a finished goods warehouse, an open exhibition area for agricultural machinery and an administrative and educational building. The construction of an assembly shop with a total area of ​​more than 1,600 square meters is underway. It will include three lines to assemble Belarusian equipment.

In 2018 the parties will launch the production of trailed and attached equipment of Bobruiskagromash and self-propelled mowers of Gomselmash in Hisor. The plans are in place to expand the model range of equipment.

One more project is underway in Hisor to establish a training center for technical specialists to maintain and serve Belarusian agricultural machinery. The talks are underway to involve teachers of the Belarusian National Technical University in the educational programs of the training center.