Business news

CHISINAU, 18 February (BelTA) – Moldova is ready to launch the project to assemble MAZ buses in Chisinau together with Belarus. Moldova is also ready to open new joint ventures in various branches of the economy and to host a session of the Moldovan-Belarusian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation in Chisinau in H2 2016, BelTA has learned.

The statement was made by Moldovan Economy Minister Octavian Calmic during the latest meeting with Ambassador of Belarus to Moldova Sergei Chichuk. The meeting was focused on the organization of the next session of the Moldovan-Belarusian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation in Chisinau.

The sides also discussed matters concerning the development of trade and economic relations, ways to increase Belarus-Moldova trade turnover, the implementation of investment projects, and the establishment of joint ventures in various branches of the production sector.

Close attention was paid to making sure that Belarusian MAZ buses will indeed be assembled in Chisinau. Octavian Calmic underlined that the draft agreement between the Moldovan Economy Ministry and the Belarusian Industry Ministry on implementing the joint project for renewing the bus fleet in Moldova was going through internal procedures to be ready for signing.

The Ambassador of Belarus thanked the Moldovan Economy Minister for openness. Sergei Chichuk mentioned the importance of fostering the development of bilateral relations.

According to the Moldovan Economy Ministry, so far Belarus and Moldova have signed 77 agreements that cover virtually all spheres of cooperation. The organization of the next session of the Moldovan-Belarusian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation in Chisinau is stipulated by the action plan meant to fulfill the agreements reached during the official visit of Moldova President Nicolae Timofti on 16-17 July 2015.

BelTA reported earlier that the Moldovan government has approved the draft agreement between the Moldovan Economy Ministry and the Belarusian Industry Ministry on implementing the joint project for renewing the bus fleet in Moldova. Belarusian MAZ buses will be assembled in Chisinau as part of the project.

As part of the project 120 buses will be assembled using Belarusian components and parts. The buses will be powered by modern engines compliant with the environmental standard Euro 4. The Chisinau city bus company will begin this work while the Moldovan Economy Ministry and the Belarusian Industry Ministry will monitor and coordinate the process.

The agreement in principle on starting assembling MAZ buses using Belarusian components in Chisinau and on setting up the relevant joint venture was reached much earlier. Representatives of the Moldovan Economy Ministry and the Belarusian Industry Ministry signed a memorandum on cooperation in assembling MAZ buses in Chisinau in the presence of the presidents of the two countries in Minsk on 16 July 2015. Back then the Moldovan President noted that the assembly of Belarusian trolleybuses in Chisinau was a good example of cooperation.

The Chisinau city bus company operates over 130 buses, with nearly 12% past their service life (22-25 years in use) and decommissioned.