Belarussian combines to be assembled in Tatarstan

January 21, Tatarstan and the Gomel Region, Belarus, signed a memorandum of cooperation on trade, economy, science and technology.

The document was endorsed by the Prime Minister of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the Gomel Executive Committee chief Alexander Yakobsson.

The Tatarstan delegation, led by the prime minister, on Wednesday went on a two-day visit to Belarus. In the course of the visit, Mr Minnikhanov and the accompanying persons toured the Gomel Agricultural Machinery Plant, Gomselmash. After negotiations, the parties made the decision to set up a joint assembly line to manufacture grain and fodder harvesting combines.

Assembly of combines from Belarus-made parts is to be performed at the industrial site of OAO Tatelektromash in Tatarstan’s Naberezhnye Chelny. According to the aide the prime minister of Tatarstan on external economic activities Iskander Muflikhanov, 50 units of agricultural machinery are to be manufactured in 2009. Prospectively, in 2010 the rate of production could be increased to 250 units a year, including other types of agricultural equipment. The increase in production is to allow to sell the products to other regions of Russia.

The head of Tatar government noted that the decision was accounted for by years-long cooperation between Tatarstan agrarians and Belarus manufacturers of agricultural equipment. "Machinery produced at Gomselmash is now used in our fields and the success we have achieved in the area has been largely contributed to by this machinery," said Minnikhanov.

Tatarstan has developed a strong maintenance base for servicing Belarus agricultural equipment. Besides, new products by Gomselmash are being tested in Tatarstan and a personnel training system has been developed. Launching a joint assembly line will be a logical continuation of the established business ties.

The Tatar Prime Minister suggested representatives from Gomel made a return visit to Tatarstan.