GRODNO, 17 January (BelTA) – Plans have been made to set up a Chinese industrial park in Grodno Oblast. The relevant intention was voiced at the meeting of top officials of the Grodno Oblast administration and the delegation of the government of Gansu Province, China on 17 January, BelTA has learned.
Locations in Shchuchin District and Volkovysk District are under consideration as the sites fit for the industrial park. Spare manufacturing premises of existing Grodno enterprises, in particular, OAO Radiovolna, are also on the list.
At the meeting Deputy Chairman of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee Yuri Shuleiko confirmed Grodno Oblast's interest in the project. He assured the Chinese partners that the oblast administration will allocate the necessary land for establishing Chinese enterprises and, if necessary, will enable the preferential business operation terms, which are available to free economic zone residents.
Grodno Oblast is interested in setting up assembly enterprises together with China for the sake of making industrial components and apparatus, compact agricultural machines, household and electrical goods. “We are ready to discuss the prospects of establishing the production of Chinese agricultural machines in Grodno Oblast and Grodno agricultural machines in Gansu,” noted the official. Apart from that, Yuri Shuleiko suggested setting up a joint logistics center that could help increase the export and import potential of the two regions. Apart from that, opportunities for placing warehouse facilities are available in the Grodno airport that has a lot of area to spare. The shipment of Chinese food (rice, tea) as well as light industry products to Grodno Oblast is also a topical idea, the oblast administration believes. Besides, plans have been made to ship more milk powder and baby food to China. In late 2013 the Belarusian company OAO Bellakt shipped test batches of baby food to China. A representative of the Grodno branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry suggested implementing an investment project to set up an expo center, including for the purpose of arranging fairs of Chinese products.
In turn, Yang Zhiwu, Director of the Gansu Province Department of Commerce, said that within the framework of the future industrial park the sides will be able to advance cooperation in the processing of agricultural products, grain production, mechanical engineering, the production of agricultural machines, and other areas. Chinese companies are also willing to invest in existing enterprises and in establishing joint enterprises and manufacturing projects. Yang Zhiwu said that if legal and legislative issues are handled successfully, Chinese investors are ready to act fast. For instance, the decision on building an enterprise to make Belarusian harvesters and tractors in Gansu was made recently after the Ambassador of Belarus voiced the proposal. The contract will soon be signed. According to Yang Zhiwu, it is necessary to establish direct contacts, exchange visits of delegations of companies. The representation of mediator bodies in trade relations should be reduced.
Yang Zhiwu spoke in favor of establishing an enterprise to make compact agricultural machines in Grodno Oblast as fast as possible.
The Director of the Gansu Province Department of Commerce also said that a commercial representation of Gansu Province will be set up in Minsk for the sake of promoting all kinds of contacts, however, its efforts will be directed towards advancing economic partnership with Grodno Oblast, too. The possibility of setting up the representative office in Grodno had been discussed before.
It is the second visit of the Gansu Province government delegation to Grodno Oblast in the last few months. Apart from top officials of the Department of Commerce the delegation includes representatives of individual manufacturing and trade companies. At the meeting the sides discussed the establishment of direct business and trade ties. With this in mind a business matchmaking session was scheduled to take place in Grodno on 17 January. On 18 January the Gansu Province delegation will visit Volkovysk District to get familiar with the site fit for placing the industrial park. The delegation will also visit Lida District to get familiar with industrial and agricultural enterprises.
Locations in Shchuchin District and Volkovysk District are under consideration as the sites fit for the industrial park. Spare manufacturing premises of existing Grodno enterprises, in particular, OAO Radiovolna, are also on the list.
At the meeting Deputy Chairman of the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee Yuri Shuleiko confirmed Grodno Oblast's interest in the project. He assured the Chinese partners that the oblast administration will allocate the necessary land for establishing Chinese enterprises and, if necessary, will enable the preferential business operation terms, which are available to free economic zone residents.
Grodno Oblast is interested in setting up assembly enterprises together with China for the sake of making industrial components and apparatus, compact agricultural machines, household and electrical goods. “We are ready to discuss the prospects of establishing the production of Chinese agricultural machines in Grodno Oblast and Grodno agricultural machines in Gansu,” noted the official. Apart from that, Yuri Shuleiko suggested setting up a joint logistics center that could help increase the export and import potential of the two regions. Apart from that, opportunities for placing warehouse facilities are available in the Grodno airport that has a lot of area to spare. The shipment of Chinese food (rice, tea) as well as light industry products to Grodno Oblast is also a topical idea, the oblast administration believes. Besides, plans have been made to ship more milk powder and baby food to China. In late 2013 the Belarusian company OAO Bellakt shipped test batches of baby food to China. A representative of the Grodno branch of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry suggested implementing an investment project to set up an expo center, including for the purpose of arranging fairs of Chinese products.
In turn, Yang Zhiwu, Director of the Gansu Province Department of Commerce, said that within the framework of the future industrial park the sides will be able to advance cooperation in the processing of agricultural products, grain production, mechanical engineering, the production of agricultural machines, and other areas. Chinese companies are also willing to invest in existing enterprises and in establishing joint enterprises and manufacturing projects. Yang Zhiwu said that if legal and legislative issues are handled successfully, Chinese investors are ready to act fast. For instance, the decision on building an enterprise to make Belarusian harvesters and tractors in Gansu was made recently after the Ambassador of Belarus voiced the proposal. The contract will soon be signed. According to Yang Zhiwu, it is necessary to establish direct contacts, exchange visits of delegations of companies. The representation of mediator bodies in trade relations should be reduced.
Yang Zhiwu spoke in favor of establishing an enterprise to make compact agricultural machines in Grodno Oblast as fast as possible.
The Director of the Gansu Province Department of Commerce also said that a commercial representation of Gansu Province will be set up in Minsk for the sake of promoting all kinds of contacts, however, its efforts will be directed towards advancing economic partnership with Grodno Oblast, too. The possibility of setting up the representative office in Grodno had been discussed before.
It is the second visit of the Gansu Province government delegation to Grodno Oblast in the last few months. Apart from top officials of the Department of Commerce the delegation includes representatives of individual manufacturing and trade companies. At the meeting the sides discussed the establishment of direct business and trade ties. With this in mind a business matchmaking session was scheduled to take place in Grodno on 17 January. On 18 January the Gansu Province delegation will visit Volkovysk District to get familiar with the site fit for placing the industrial park. The delegation will also visit Lida District to get familiar with industrial and agricultural enterprises.
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