Business news

MINSK, 31 May (BelTA) – A Swedish company will ship $18 million worth of timber harvesters to Belarus in August-September 2016, BelTA learned from Alexander Surta, Head of the Production and Sales Office of the Belarusian Forestry Ministry, on 31 May.

The official explained that the machines will be delivered as part of a joint project with the World Bank. Tenders have been held already to buy timber harvesters and forwarders for forest thinning operations. The Swedish company Vimek has won one of the tenders. Negotiations are in progress to sign the sale contract and agree the delivery schedule. The contract is worth $18 million.

According to the source, Belarus will get 72 harvesters and 52 forwarders. Alexander Surta said: “We expect the first batch to be delivered in August but it is likely to arrive in September. The machines will be handed over to the Logoisk District forestry enterprise.”

BelTA reported earlier that in March 2015 the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank approved a $40.71 million loan for Belarus for the new project meant to develop the forestry industry in the country. The project is also supposed to receive a $2.74 million grant from the Global Environmental Facility. The money will buy timber harvesters and forwarders for harvesting the timber that can be felled every year. Some of the sum will be spent on forest nurseries, forest protection, and the operation of forestry enterprises.