NUCLEAR POWER IN BELARUS AND WORLDWIDE
MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) - Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Dmitry Krutoi named the restrictions for the Belarusian products on the Russian market which should be removed in an interview with Belarus 1 TV Channel, BelTA has learned.
Dmitry Krutoi stressed the need to remove restrictions for certain commodity items on the Russian market. “This applies to the industrial group of goods, such classical for Belarus items as tractors, harvesters, trucks, and passenger vehicles. It is not a question of direct sales restrictions in Russia, but an issue of the access to preferential financial and leasing programs. The Russian industrial legislation of the recent years has been drafted in such a way that only manufacturers having large production facilities in Russia can get respective subsidies. Those technological operations or even Russian components that are used in Belarus for final assembly are not counted in this system of subsidies and our products cannot participate in these programs,” he explained.
The topic was discussed at the meeting with [Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia] Denis Manturov. The list of commodity items that are subject to such legal restrictions has been compiled and verified with the Russian side. “We hope that by the end of the year some decisions will be made on this list. We have agreed at the governmental level that the positions that Belarusians are most interested in today and that need to be decided upon most quickly, will be considered as a matter of priority. For example, this pertains to the supply of passenger vehicles. Russia has adopted a large program focusing on electric transport; Belkommunmash and MAZ with their products (trams, trolley buses, electric buses) would agree to participate,” the ambassador said.
Gas-powered vehicles is another important segment. “Taking into account Gazprom's well-known programs for reorientation of gas consumption in the Russian market, there is a great need for NGV vehicles in some regions. Given that we have both elements and final products (public utilities, road machinery, trucks and tractors), we would like to be able to participate in these programs as well,” Dmitry Krutoi stressed.
“Belarus does not ask for subsidies for manufacturers. We want equal conditions for the buyers, the consumers of our equipment, to have access to the subsidies. All Russian governors are asking for this. The regions with bigger budgets have their regional programs; but in order to get access to the federal level, we need a decision of the government and the inclusion of our manufacturers in these programs,” the ambassador said.
