Business news

ASTANA, 14 August (BelTA) – Belarus and Kazakhstan can step up efforts to develop cooperation in the oil industry, IT sector, manufacturing, Belarus’ Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov said on 13 August at the opening of the Belarusian-Kazakhstani business forum which is held as part of the Made in Belarus. Astana expo in Kazakhstan, BelTA has learned.

“We can efficiently build priorities in various industries. These include industrial cooperation, agriculture, transport, petrochemistry, information technologies, etc.,” Andrei Kobyakov stressed.

Industrial cooperation has become the flagship of the economic ties between the two countries, the prime minister remarked. There are eight large joint assembly facilities for Belarusian machines and equipment, including of BelAZ, MTZ, MAZ, on the territory of Kazakhstan. “We can raise the output of equipment and expand the product range, including the manufacture of new energy intensive models of MAZ and MTZ equipment. The existing contacts between BelAZ and the biggest mining companies of Kazakhstan, such as Shubarkol Komir, Bakyrchik Mining Venture, Polymetal, in the delivery of dump trucks is a good example of efficient long-term cooperation. Besides, the Belarusian manufacturer can produce and deliver customized equipment and guarantee warranty and post-warranty maintenance services,” he explained.

Andrei Kobyakov emphasized that Belarus can provide assistance to Kazakhstan in developing agribusiness. “We know that your government is now paying serious attention to the development of agribusiness. And the Belarusian experience and potential of setting up agricultural complexes, delivery of agricultural machines and various equipment can be useful for you. We are also interested in the joint implementation of projects in the designing and construction of motorways in Kazakhstan. Belarusian companies working in this field have relevant experience, including in the erection of objects of diverse complexity, such as high-speed roads, metro, bridges, underground walkways, and other objects,” he said.

The head of government remarked that Belarus is ready to take an active part in the modernization of passenger and municipal equipment. “Productive work of Belarusian companies with Kazakhstani partners in the oil industry, including geological exploration, well operation, application of various methods to intensify mining and reservoir recovery, could be a new dimension of cooperation. Interaction in advanced technologies could be of interest too,” he said. “Belarus has made big progress in the development of information technologies in recent years. The country has become one of the top ten providers of services in customized software production.”

“Belarus also sees serious prospects in the joint participation in the Silk Road Economic Belt project. A large-scale project to build the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial park Great Stone is being implemented together with China near Minsk. The park is expected to be an innovative “city of the future”, should be convenient for work and life. We invite all interested parties to join this project with obvious benefits,” Andrei Kobyakov said.

Belarus is an important market for Kazakhstani oil products, coal, metals and metal products, cotton fibers. In January-June 2017, Kazakhstan significantly increased the export of products to the Belarusian market. It went up 2.5 times in comparison with the same period of 2016.

The prime minister stressed that it is important to create new financial mechanisms to stimulate export and expand the Belarusian-Kazakhstani trade. Since 2016, Kazakhstan has been implementing a program to support local agrarians, manufacturers and other consumers of Belarusian equipment with the help of preferential loans. The Belarusian government has concluded agreements with a number of Kazakhstani financial organizations. In accordance with these documents, the Belarusian side will cover part of interest rates on loans for the purchase of Belarusian machines and equipment. In particular, the company KomTransLeasing leased about $2 million worth of Belarusian tractor equipment to Kazakhstani agrarians in the past 18 months.

“Belarus is in favor of versatile and all-round development of relations with Kazakhstan which is a reliable partner and a brotherly state for us,” Andrei Kobyakov said.