Mirziyoyev proposes to Lukashenko to establish production of BelAZ dump trucks in Uzbekistan

MINSK. Feb 8 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has proposed organizing the joint production of BelAZ dump trucks in Uzbekistan, Belarus' BelTA state news agency said in a statement.

"We are open. We do not have these trustworthy and straight talks with all countries. [...] Nothing is currently hindering us. We are very serious about expanding the metals and mining industry. We need BelAZ," Mirziyoyev said.

Mirziyoyev said that a Belarusian-Uzbek joint venture could manufacture dump trucks.

"We already require localization here; we need a joint venture. We will build copper processing plants, the third, fourth, and fifth. How many vehicles do we need? We have been training our engineers and mid-level personnel to work at BelAZ for so many years. Why should we not work together to release the BelAZ vehicles? Mirziyoyev said.

OJSC BelAZ is one of the world's largest manufacturers of mining dump trucks and transport equipment for the mining and construction industries. The plant occupied around 30% of the global market for heavy-duty mining dump trucks prior to the introduction of Western sanctions. The company manufactures the world's largest mining dump truck with a load capacity of 450 tonnes.