Business news

GOMEL, 10 August (BelTA) – There is no intention to sell OAO Gomselmash to a foreign investor, BelTA learned from Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on 10 August.

According to the president, Kazakh partners are ready to work with Gomselmash and buy some of the company’s stock. “But frankly speaking, I am not going to sell Gomselmash. I don’t want it privatized. If Kazakhstan wants to buy some shares, we don’t mind it. And then Kazakhstan does not intend to run the enterprise and get a controlling interest,” said the head of state.

“I am not ready to sell the controlling interest. It is unlikely to happen as long as I am the president. It is a state-owned enterprise and it should be run by the state,” stressed the Belarusian leader. Alexander Lukashenko remarked he knows what such privatization may result in. “Rostselmash has been trying to buy it for a long time. But I don’t want the Belarusian company to become a mere gear wheel factory. If the Russian company buys Gomselmash, R&D efforts will be concentrated in Rostov while the Belarusian enterprise will become some appendage. It shouldn’t happen like that. Partnership should be established,” stated Alexander Lukashenko.

Speaking about Kazakhstan, Alexander Lukashenko noted that it is a vast and very important market for Gomselmash. Kazakhstan is interested in Gomselmash products. “I’ve told the director general that there is also the brotherly country of Ukraine. We should come to terms with Ukraine. It is a top grain producer and it has no harvester of its own,” noted the head of state.