MINSK, 27 August (BelTA) - Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ trademark) is planning to establish a joint venture to assemble agricultural machinery in Sri Lanka, MTZ Director General Vladimir Volchok said when hosting a Sri Lankan delegation headed by President of the country Mahinda Rajapaksa, BelTA has learnt.
The high guest visited the main assembly conveyor of the company, and attended an exhibition of agricultural machinery and equipment manufactured by Minsk Tractor Works. The President of Sri Lanka showed a particular interest in the tractors for rice processing and low power tractors: 9hp walk-behind tractors and 11hp mini-tractors.
For the past ten years Minsk Tractor Works has not supplied tractors to Sri Lanka. The major supplies were executed in 1970-80s.
As noted by Vladimir Volchok, talks with the delegation of Sri Lanka took place within the framework of the visit of the President of Sri Lanka to Belarus. "We have reached an agreement to supply tractors to Sri Lanka and to start an assembly plant. In the coming weeks a delegation of the Industry Ministry will go to Sri Lanka to discuss these issues in more detail.
Sri Lankan consumers are interested in the tractors to work in rice fields and small farms. MTZ has some offers for farmers. In the near future the MTZ specialists will identify the technical requirements for specific models for Sri Lankan partners. "We manufacture tractors for the countries with a hot climate. Our vehicles have all the necessary features for comfortable operation," said Vladimir Volchok.
Vladimir Volchok also noted that on the market of Southeast Asian countries Belarusian tractors successfully compete with the equipment made in China and India. "I think we have a good chance of gaining a foothold in the new market and to supply the equipment necessary for Sri Lanka. With regard to possible numbers, this issue is still being worked out. It is expected that the export volumes will match the numbers spelled out in the government programs of Sri Lanka,” he said.
By the visit to MTZ Mahinda Rajapaksa concluded a three-day visit to Belarus. It was the first visit of a Sri Lankan delegation to Belarus. When in Minsk the President of Sri Lanka met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich.
The President of Sri Lanka attended the Belarusian-Sri Lankan Business Forum during which an agreement on cooperation was signed by the national center for marketing and price study of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus and the Export Promotion Council of Sri Lanka. Belarus and Sri Lanka have concluded eight international documents designed to promote all-round cooperation. They include an intergovernmental agreement on trade and economic cooperation, an intergovernmental agreement on visa-free travels for holders of diplomatic and service passports; an intergovernmental double taxation agreement and an agreement to prevent tax evasion; a cooperation agreement in the defense sector and an agreement to promote tourism. The two countries also signed an agreement in mutual legal assistance in criminal cases and a memorandum of understanding between the justice ministries of the two countries.
A joint statement was signed following the highest-level talks between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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