Belarus suggests large-scale vehicle assembly projects to Uzbekistan

MINSK, 18 June (BelTA) – The Belarusian government is interested in industrial cooperation with Uzbekistan and suggests implementing large-scale projects to make vehicles and machines. Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Dvornik made the relevant statement at a session of the intergovernmental commission on Belarus-Uzbekistan cooperation on 18 June, BelTA has learned.
Vladimir Dvornik noted: "Cooperation in agribusiness, mechanical engineering, food industry, pharmaceutics, and light industry is a priority. We pay close attention to manufacturing cooperation, the establishment of joint ventures. We suggest implementing large-scale projects in Uzbekistan to set up enterprises to make trucks, utility vehicles, and trailers, buses powered by natural gas. MAZ is ready to take part in the establishment of such enterprises with a high degree of localization. There are also prospects for cooperation in pharmaceutics and light industry."
As for cooperation in agriculture, agreements have been reached to set up dairy farms in Uzbekistan with assistance of Uzbek funding and Belarusian design and construction companies. The farms will use Belarusian equipment and Belarusian cattle. The joint venture Zdravushka Tashkent was established in Tashkent Oblast in April 2019. There are plans to build a milk-processing plant and a dairy farm for 1,000 head of cattle as part of the project. The Belarusian side is ready to implement the same projects in other regions of Uzbekistan, Vladimir Dvornik stressed.
In his opinion, projects to automate gas transportation and gas distribution networks of Uzbekistan with assistance of Belarusian companies can become breakthrough ones.
The Belarusian side also suggested stepping up interaction in the area of information technologies, primarily by establishing ties between hi-tech parks. "We've accumulated some experience in the course of setting up and developing the Hi-Tech Park and are ready to share it. We are also ready to organize the education of Uzbek students in Belarusian universities in IT professions," Belarus' deputy prime minister said.
Belarus is capable of shipping more agricultural machines, road construction machines, municipal vehicles, and utility vehicles to Uzbekistan as well as haul trucks, woodworking products, petrochemical, pharmaceutical products, food, and pedigree cattle. According to Vladimir Dvornik, there is an interest in quality Uzbek products, first of all, fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, nuts, cotton fiber, and copper wire.
A delegation of the Uzbek government is in Belarus on a visit on 17-19 June. Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is expected to visit Belarus in August 2019.
Source: https://eng.belta.by/economics/view/belarus-suggests-large-scale-vehicle-assembly-projects-to-uzbekistan-121932-2019/