Minsk Tractor Works to start assembling tractors in Uzbekistan

Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) plans to create an assembly plant for agricultural tractors in Uzbekistan, the Belta news agency reported with reference to the Ministry of Industry of Belarus.

On February 9, at the second forum of regions of Uzbekistan and Belarus, the Minsk Motor Works and the local company Planeta Servis agreed on a new project to organize the assembly production of diesel generator sets and compressor stations in the republic.

In addition, MTZ and Planeta Servis signed license agreements to organize the assembly production of Belarus agricultural machinery. In the future, it is planned to localize the production of tractors in the country.

Last year, imports of Belarusian tractors increased 1.6 times compared to 2022. In Uzbekistan, out of ten tractors, half are made in Belarus, the president noted at a meeting with Alexander Lukashenko.

The local company Krantas Group and the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) discussed cooperation in the production of special equipment in the republic. Krantas Group and MAZ want to sign new contracts for 2024.

The Ambassador of Belarus to Uzbekistan Leonid Marinich in an interview with the Belarus 1 TV channel said that Lukashenko supported Mirziyoyev’s proposal to create a joint venture to assemble BelAZ dump trucks.

“The Minister of Industry received the task of creating a joint venture here to assemble BELAZ vehicles. The same task was set for the Minsk Tractor Works and MAZ,” he said.

According to him, Uzbekistan does not intend to limit itself only to large-unit assembly of Belarusian dump trucks, but also wants to produce components and parts.

In addition, the Belarusian enterprise FanDOK plans to produce furniture in the Tashkent region. Belarus undertakes to supply raw materials and produce products, and the joint venture will be owned equally.

On February 7, the vice-premiers of Uzbekistan and Belarus agreed to implement projects worth $1 billion. The republic will establish the production of cotton-growing tractors, the assembly of passenger cars and the production of baby food products.

In March 2023, the United States imposed sanctions against the BelAZ and MAZ companies, which are under the control of the Belarusian authorities and “act in their interests”.