MINSK, 27 June (BelTA) – President of Russia Vladimir Putin was interested in the Belarusian head of state's proposal regarding the joint development of production of timber-harvesting equipment and machines. It meets interests and needs of both countries. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement as he met with Governor of Russia's Samara Oblast Dmitry Azarov, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said Belarus is ready to substantially increase shipments of cutting-edge automobiles, agricultural machines, road construction machines, and municipal vehicles. He drew attention to timber-harvesting machines, which production Belarus has been trying to launch for the last few years but batch production has yet to start. These products are in demand in Russia, too.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stated: “I explained all of that to the president [of Russia]. We will not do without it after all, particularly Russia. As I said, it is our alternative oil [timber]. We need at least $200-250 million in order to start all of it as import substitution now. He said: it is an interesting project, we should study it and definitely promote. The governments have to get this project going now. Samara Oblast may play part in it, too.”
