ASTANA (TCA) — Belarus and Kazakhstan can step up cooperation in the oil industry, IT sector, manufacturing, agriculture, and transport, Belarus’ Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov said on August 13 at the opening of the Belarus-Kazakhstan business forum which was held as part of the Made in Belarus exhibition in Astana, BelTA news agency reported.
Industrial cooperation has become the flagship of the economic ties between the two countries, the prime minister said. There are eight large joint assembly facilities for Belarusian machinery and equipment, including of BelAZ, MTZ, and MAZ, in Kazakhstan.
“We can raise the output of equipment and expand the product range, including the manufacture of new energy intensive models of MAZ [trucks] and MTZ [tractor] equipment. The existing contacts between BelAZ [producer of high-capacity trucks] and the biggest mining companies of Kazakhstan, such as Shubarkol Komir, Bakyrchik Mining Venture, and Polymetal, in the delivery of dump trucks is a good example of efficient long-term cooperation,” Belarus’ Prime Minister said.
Kobyakov emphasized that Belarus can provide assistance to Kazakhstan in developing agribusiness. “The Belarusian experience and potential of setting up agricultural complexes, delivery of agricultural machines and various equipment can be useful for you,” he said.
“Belarus also sees serious prospects in the joint participation in [China’s] Silk Road Economic Belt project. A large-scale project to build the Chinese-Belarusian Industrial park Great Stone is being implemented together with China near Minsk. The park is expected to be an innovative ‘city of the future’, should be convenient for work and life. We invite all interested parties to join this project with obvious benefits,” Kobyakov said.
Belarus is an important market for Kazakhstan’s oil products, coal, metals, and cotton fiber.
