Russia, Belarus to approve plan to develop machinery industry in September - Belarusian ministry of industry

MINSK. Sept 1 (Interfax) - Russia and Belarus plan to sign a roadmap for machinery cooperation in Minsk next month, the Belarusian Ministry of Industry said on Thursday.

"A draft of a program of measures (roadmap) to develop cooperation between the Russian ministry of industry and trade and the Belarusian ministry of industry in the machinery industry, as per the Belarusian-Russian intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the development of the machinery and tools industry, is nearly complete," the statement said.

The program involves creating favorable conditions for establishing and maintaining direct ties and further cooperation under joint projects between machinery manufacturers in both countries; setting up joint facilities for manufacturing machine tool products, the production of which is nonexistent or insufficient in the two countries; and forming proposals on how to develop measures of state support for the machine tool manufacturers in the Union State.

The roadmap involves implementing the "Soyuzny Stanok" (Union machine tool) project aimed at creating a machine tool made with parts produced in the Union State, the ministry said.

It was reported that the two countries signed an intergovernmental agreement to develop the machinery industry in July this year. The agreement aims to develop cooperation in the development, production, and use of machine tool products and accessories for businesses in the two countries. Thus, it involves planning and implementing joint programs and projects in the machinery industry, and sharing of scientific and technical information among businesses in various areas. In addition, cooperation would involve organizing industry fairs and exhibitions, and business forums for representatives from Russian and Belarusian commerce, industry and business circles.