Belarus and Samara Кegion develop cooperation projects in mechanical engineering

Belarus and the Samara Кegion will develop cooperation projects in mechanical engineering. A large-scale forum-meeting with the managers of Minsk Automobile Plant and representatives of MAZ dealer and service organizations from all over Russia was held in Samara. The main topic was import substitution, joint projects in mechanical engineering that will help to resist the sanctions that Belarus and Russia are experiencing. The "Joint Product" program has been in effect between the countries since 2019. This is when Russian bodies and various trailers for municipal and road-building equipment are installed on the basis of MAZ chassis. The Belarusian company cooperates with 37 Russian plants, and such cooperation has allowed our equipment to take a leading position in the Russian market.

Dmitry Krutoy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia:

“If we want a higher level of subsidies, we need cooperation projects. Our component suppliers - BATE, Transformer Plant - feel good here. They annually expand the lineup, so the governor and I agreed to enter a full-fledged program of import substitution of components, like we have with KAMAZ, GAZ Group, or URAL. AvtoVAZ should become the fourth such good example.”

Alexander Ogorodnikov, First Deputy Minister of Industry of Belarus:

“We have always been famous for trucks, heavy equipment, but we have competencies that can be transferred from heavy trucks to cars. The partner programs - MAZ-KAMAZ, Gomselmash-Rostov - during this period have found an understanding that we will bring them what they really lack. This project is not only for our manufacturers, but in the first place it is aimed at export orientation. In this case for the Russian Federation.”

Samara is well afamiliar with Belarusian buses as well. In the last 10 years about 500 buses have been delivered. This year they plan to buy another fifty. Special attention is also paid to our electric buses. A pilot electric bus is already running on the streets of the city and is very popular. In addition, Belarus and the Samara region are interested in joint projects in metallurgy, chemical production, construction, agriculture, and space developments. Given our mutual interest, the trade turnover may grow up to $2.5 billion by the end of 2023.