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Lukashenko, Khabirov discuss creation of Bashkortostan-Belarus investment cluster
MINSK, 7 February (BelTA) – The creation of an investment cluster of Bashkortostan and Belarus was discussed during a meeting of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko with Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan of the Russian Federation Radiy Khabirov on 7 February. Radiy Khabirov shared the details of the meeting with journalists, BelTA reports.
“We suggested that the president support our idea to set up an investment cluster of Bashkortostan and Belarus. This is a new economic phenomenon that will require amendments to the legislation of the Russian Federation. We have prepared a legislative initiative. The president of Belarus has upheld this proposal,” Radiy Khabirov said.
He noted that a cluster is to be located on a territory with a preferential status: “This will imply a reduced recycling fee. It will have even more preferences than regular special economic zones in the Russian Federation. The territory is large enough, it can fit five technology parks. We even considered joint construction of rental housing for people working there. But since this project involves a foreign counterpart, it is necessary to amend the federal legislation and this is what we are doing now.”
At the same time, no legislative changes are needed in order to expand cooperation with Belarus. The region has a special economic zone, where Belarus' Amkodor has already built an enterprise to produce grain drying equipment. The second project to be developed with Amkodor is the production of utility vehicles. This project will also be based in in the special economic zone.
According to Radiy Khabirov, the Belarusian company 1AK-GROUP is ready to produce separators for batteries in the territory of the economic zone.
“We offer all kinds of opportunities for Belarusian producers. We have reasonable utility fees, labor resources, a preferential regime. And most importantly, a large sales market. It's one thing to trade with Belarus [directly] that is 2,500 km away from us. Another thing is to trade with the entire Volga region that has a population of about 20 million people. Bashkortostan itself has a population of 4 million. This is a good sales market,” Radiy Khabirov remarked.
He emphasized that Bashkortostan has a long history of fraternal relations with Belarus. The cooperation agenda is very broad and includes not only economic, but also social, cultural, humanitarian, education and academic partnerships. It is also important to promote cooperation in tourism. “We really want residents of our republic to discover Belarus as a tourist destination. And we would be glad if Belarusians visited us. We also have something to show,” the head of Bashkortostan said.
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