Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 10 April (BelTA) – It is necessary to start the development of a Union State program on machine tool engineering, BelTA learned from Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko during an industrial and technological forum in the Football Manege, Minsk on 10 April.

A number of expos are supposed to take place as part of the forum. The expos will focus on mechanical engineering, welding and cutting, metal casting and metallurgical technologies, and anticorrosion protection. After a tour of displays of Belarusian and foreign companies Vladimir Semashko noted that the technologies of Belarusian machine-tool producers are on par with the world level. “But, unfortunately, the market has shrunk — both the Belarusian market and the Russian one. Proposals have been voiced in favor of a technological revolution but it is impossible to accomplish one without making new machine tools or means of production,” said the deputy prime minister. “During the economic forum in Krasnoyarsk I am going to raise the point that we should work out a Union State program on machine tool engineering as soon as possible. We have essentially preserved the machine tool industry but we need to develop it. It would be easier and simpler to accomplish it together. We should also think about import substitution.”

Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko took part in the opening of an industrial and technological forum, which is scheduled to take place in Minsk on 10-13 April. About 200 companies from 13 countries — Belarus, Belgium, Georgia, Russia, Austria, the UK, Israel, Italy, China, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, the USA, Ukraine, Czechia, Switzerland — are expected to take part in the forum.