Belarus company to establish tractor assembly plant in Sri Lanka
Wednesday, 19 February 2014 00:49
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Belarus company Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ trademark) expects to complete the negotiations on the establishment of an assembly plant in Sri Lanka in March, according to international reports.
Belarusian Telegraph Agency, BelTA reported the final round of negotiations on the joint plant project will be held in March this year during a meeting between the MTZ top executives and President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Last year the President visited the Minsk Tractor Works and got acquainted with the MTZ products.
“Back then, the parties came to an agreement to set up a joint venture to assemble agricultural machinery in Sri Lanka. The next step in establishing the business relationship was a demonstration of the Belarusian machinery before the Sri Lankan farmers and interested buyers.”
MTZ had an open dialogue and clarified the technical requirements for specific models for Sri Lankan partners. It primarily included the tractors designed to work in rice fields and small farms. Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa has already confirmed the intention of the Government to purchase the first 1,500 tractors produced by the assembly plant under the Government agricultural development program.
The parties also agreed on the visit of the Belarusian constructors to the farm mechanisation research centre at the Ministry of Agriculture of Sri Lanka for further discussion of the specifications of tractor and tractor sets indented for this region
MTZ specialists also met with technical specialists of the Lankan company Euronippon International Ltd. on the issues of the operation and maintenance of MTS equipment.
Minsk Tractor Works was founded in 1946. Now it is affiliated with the Belarus Industry Ministry. MTZ produces more than 60 models and modifications of tractors and machines in over 100 versions and configurations for all climatic and operational conditions.
New models of tractors are well attachable with agricultural machines from different manufacturers. MTZ also offers logging, utilities and mining machines. The company holds 8-10% of the global tractor market.
