MINSK, 19 March (BelTA) – Russia's Irkutsk Oblast will buy over 160 tractors from the Belarusian tractor engineering company MTZ soon. Tractor sales were discussed as MTZ Director General Vitaly Vovk met with Irkutsk Oblast Governor Igor Kobzev, the MTZ press service told BelTA.
Vitaly Vovk said: “We can supply the entire product choice of MTZ Holding Company to Irkutsk Oblast. Forest machines and special-purpose machines can be delivered to Irkutsk Oblast organizations for trial operation. This kind of machines has not been shipped to the region before. The possibility of buying machines and vehicles for volunteers, who help fight forest fires, is under consideration.”
The MTZ director general also confirmed MTZ's interest in setting up educational classrooms in higher education institutions and vocational schools in Irkutsk Oblast for the sake of training qualified personnel to operate MTZ machines and vehicles.
Apart from that, MTZ is interested in developing its sales and aftersales service chain in the region, including a chain to cater to forest machines and special-purpose machines. According to Igor Kobzev, the possibility of setting up a specialized aftersales service center was discussed with the MTZ director general. The facility will enable prompt and cheap repairs. “I am convinced that both sides profit from such cooperation,” Igor Kobzev said.
The MTZ delegation examined the sites the Russian side had suggested for setting up facilities for major overhaul and refurbishment of MTZ vehicles and machines.
A protocol to determine further steps in advancing MTZ's cooperation with Irkutsk Oblast is expected to be signed as a result of Vitaly Vovk's visit to the Russian region.
At present Irkutsk Oblast uses about 10,000 MTZ vehicles and machines. They enjoy steady demand in agriculture, forest industry, and housing and utilities industry. “The vehicles have earned a reputation as reliable and cheap to maintain,” the governor stressed.
MTZ is one of the world's largest manufacturers of agricultural machines. Apart from the main factory the holding company MTZ comprises ten enterprises. As many as 25 assembly enterprises have been established abroad. MTZ products are represented in over 60 countries.
