Business news

MINSK, 24 October (BelTA) – Belarus and Tatarstan are discussing an opportunity of setting up joint petrochemical companies, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said in an interview to the ONT TV channel, BelTA has learned.

Summarizing the results of the talks held during the visit of the Tatarstan delegation to Belarus, Rustam Minnikhanov noted that the parties discussed the prospects of further cooperation in the petrochemical sector. In particular, the parties considered the opportunity of setting up joint petrochemical companies. “We are interested in the matter,” he stressed. Besides, Tatarstan is also interested in developing a network of petrol filling stations in Belarus. “We have already built 17 fuel stations here. We plan to build four more,” said the President of Tatarstan.

In his words, joint projects are also discussed with Belkommunmash and Minsk Motor Plant. Tatarstan is also interested in Belarus’ experience in the development of the agro-industrial complex and the agricultural machinery industry.

When asked if MAZ and KamAZ create direct competition to each other, Rustam Minnikhanov noted that in many segments they have been working in one niche. Earlier, the issue of integrating the two companies was discussed. “This did no happen however,” he said. The President of Tatarstan added that the two industrial giants can work on the market together. “The range of goods can be divided. Nothing is impossible if there is a wish. We just need to hear each other. We could considerably unify the platforms, adapt components. These are the prime costs, expenses, unification. This should be done, otherwise it would be hard to withstand the competition,” he said.