Belarus is interested in implementing turn-key construction projects in Stavropol Territory. The press service of the Belarusian Architecture and Construction Ministry released the statement after Deputy Architecture and Construction Minister Dmitry Semenkevich and Director General of the civil engineering holding company Belstroycentr Alexander Studnev visited the Russian region.
During the meeting representatives of Belarus and the Stavropol Territory government discussed the possibility of allowing Belarusian construction companies to take part in infrastructure projects, construction of industrial installations, housing construction, including in rural areas, as part of the regional development of the Russian region.
Dmitry Semenkevich noted: “Certainly, we are thinking about investing in construction projects in Stavropol Territory. We understand that offering subcontracting services is not enough these days. It is necessary to offer turn-key construction services since the entire world does that now. We are ready to consider projects, in which we can invest”.
In his words, Belarus is interested in Stavropol Territory’s experience in creating facilities in national parks. Dmitry Semenkevich stated that so far no Belarusian companies had offered construction services in Stavropol Territory, yet they had worked together with Russian regions in the past.
Participants of the meeting also spoke about a problematic issue – the construction of the Belaya Vezha sanatorium in the Russian resort Kislovodsk. Construction began in 1987. The sanatorium was supposed to offer recreation opportunities to over 400 guests at once. The project was put on hold over 20 years ago – in 1995. At present the sanatorium is located at the very center of a park and is owned by the Belarus President Property Management Directorate. After official meetings representatives of the Belarusian delegation went to Kislovodsk in order to get familiar with the state of affairs in detail and make the relevant decisions. Apart from that, the sides discussed the possibility of exporting more Belarusian construction materials to Stavropol Territory. Belarusian manufacturers offer ceramic tiles, floated glass, and other construction materials and structures taking into account logistics and needs of the civil engineering industry of the Russian region.
In turn, Stavropol Territory would like Belarusian colleagues to consider the possibility of buying polymeric and bituminous materials, which are used for waterproofing flat rooftops and building foundations. The merchandise is made by a local company, which already sells sandwich panels as well as dry building mixtures to Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.
Andrei Murga, Deputy Chairman of the Stavropol Territory government, noted: “Cooperation with Belarusian colleagues has a number of advantages. Those include tight cooperation within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the common customs space, lack of customs clearance for products and services. Apart from that, the two economies are mutually complementary. Consider, for instance, the large share of agriculture in the economy of our region and the highly developed mechanical engineering industry in Belarus”.
According to him, Belarus is one of the most important trade and economic partners of Stavropol Territory. In 2015 Belarus occupied the fifth position in terms of foreign trade with Stavropol Territory. In 2015 Stavropol Territory merchandise export to Belarus rose by over 40%. (BelTA/Business World Magazine)