17 Feb 2023 09:31

Belarus prepares 16 projects totaling 80 bln rubles for financing under Russian loan

MINSK. Feb 17 (Interfax) - Belarus has prepared 16 import substitution projects with a combined cost of about 80 billion Russian rubles for financing under a Russian government loan of 105 billion rubles, the Belarusian Industry Ministry said.

"Import substituting integration projects under the Russian loan are at a high degree of readiness. [...] The list includes 16 projects totalling about 80 billion Russian rubles. They include two projects in the area of microelectronics being implemented by OJSC Integral and OJSC Planar," the ministry said in a press release.

A number of projects to establish a components base are being carried out by Amkodor, Gomselmash, Belaz and Saleo. The most important of these are production of a wide line of transmission components (axles, gearboxes, reduction gears) and complex, high-precision hydraulic equipment.

"Projects to manufacture products with a high degree of localization within the Union State occupy a special place. For example, there are plans to modernize production and increase output of heavy mining equipment at Belarus, and expand production capacity for manufacturing forestry machinery at Amkodor with its own component base, which is one of the most high-tech in engineering," the ministry said.

Several projects are also being planned in Gomel and Vitebsk to develop Belarus's machine-tool industry by setting up a line of gear cutters and multiuse, high-performance machining centers.

"The data sheets for all 16 prospective import substituting investment projects have now been approved," the ministry said.

"The Industry Ministry of Belarus is preparing about another 10 projects for approval with our Russian colleagues that are planned for implementation in the near future," the ministry said.