MINSK, 18 October (BelTA) – The Belarusian automobile engineering company MAZ and enterprises of Russia's Novgorod Oblast may start making municipal vehicles together. Novgorod Oblast Governor Andrei Nikitin made the statement on the air of the TV channel Belarus One, BelTA has learned.
The governor said: “We have small manufacturers that make attachments. Colleagues have suggested setting up a joint enterprise. MAZ could provide its chassis and trucks. Enterprises located in our region could make additional attachments.”
Apart from that, Novgorod Oblast is interested in buying vehicles to renew the rolling stock of the mass transit system. At present 11% of the bus fleet are of Belarusian make and need replacements.
The Russian delegation visited MAZ on 18 October and saw the product lineup. Negotiations with MAZ management took place to discuss prospects of future mutually beneficial cooperation. The guests were particularly interested in refuse collection trucks since the rolling stock of municipal services is getting actively renewed.
The delegation of Russia's Novgorod Oblast is in Belarus on a visit on 16-18 October. A session of the working group on cooperation between Belarus and Novgorod Oblast took place on 17 October. The sides agreed to expand cooperation in civil engineering. Belarus suggested drawing upon the experience of investment construction of social facilities, the construction of homes, and the implementation of infrastructure projects. Such projects have already been implemented in Russia's Kaluga Oblast with Belarus' assistance. Belarusian construction companies built two schools in that region. Another school and two kindergartens will be commissioned soon.
