Ukraine, Claas to make 400 combines in 2012
KYIV. Jan 24 (Interfax) - The State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine (SFGCU) and leading German combine harvester manufacturer Claas plan to assemble 400 combines together in 2012.
"As part of expanded cooperation a memorandum was signed in 2011 between SFGCU and Claas to assemble Tucano 440 combine harvesters together. Two have been assembled and are undergoing certification. 400 combines are planned for 2012," the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry said in a press release, citing the minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk.
Claas combines will make up 20% of the fleet of new combine harvesters in Ukraine, he said.
"The government is interested in working with such agriculture equipment producers and is ready to make the relative changes to legislation to make production of agriculture equipment in Ukraine appealing to foreign investors," Prysiazhniuk said.
The two combines undergoing certification were assembled at temporary SFGCU assembly premises in Nikolaev region, the corporation said. SFGCU is looking at three possible permanent production premises in Nikolaev, Odessa and Khmelnitsky regions.
During the international Green Week 2012 exhibition in Berlin, Prysizhniuk met with representatives from Claas, CNH and John Deere, the ministry said.
SFGCU was established in accordance with a Cabinet resolution of August 11 2010. It consists of linear and port grain elevators, as well as flour, fodder and grinding mills. The corporation plans to set up a machinery station by 2014 with 7,200 combines and 5,000 grain carriers. It currently has 500 combines and 300 grain carriers.
