29 March 2024, Friday, 12:04
Support
the website
Sim Sim,
Charter 97!
Categories

Lukashenka: No plans to sell MZKT so far, unless we are offered $3 bn

38
Lukashenka: No plans to sell MZKT so far, unless we are offered $3 bn

The state has no plans to sell OAO Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT trademark), the dictator said as he visited the enterprise.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka noted that in the past year or two certain people have been pushing the idea to sell this enterprise, BelTA writes.

”You know my attitude to privatization. We did not set up this enterprise. It was created by several generations of people. This is at least the third generation of MZKT workers, and it is not up for us to decide. However, we will sell it if we have to,” Lukashenka noted.

“Do we have a deadlock situation which compels us to sell this enterprise?” he said.

Lukashenka said that there have been too many offers already. In his words, the Russian Federation has a very active position on the issue.

“If we sell something, we will set a high price for it. But they often tell us that they can build such a plant for $1 billion, while we want $2 billion. I tell them that they can try. Construction works are not very expensive; they can buy equipment using the loans provided by the manufacturers of this equipment. But who will teach people to work with this equipment, who will teach people to make high-quality products? It will take not years but decades to train specialists,” Lukashenka said.

“They wanted to give up on MTZ vehicles, to set up new production lines at a plant in Volgograd. However, they are still buying our tractors. They are buying MZKT products, too,” Lukashenka said.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka stressed that both the MZKT administration and the administrations of other enterprises have a task not to lose the Russian market. “Yes, we have to compete there. But if there is no competition, if you do not make progress, you will be lagging behind, and they will start buying similar products in the West,” Lukashenka emphasized. He added that competition should be fair. In his words, Belarus has joined the Eurasian Economic Union to enjoy unified rules. MZKT is not a loser in this competition, and it is not a private company. “It means that state-run companies can be efficient,” Lukashenka noted.

“We are not going to sell this enterprise. It should be efficient. This is an example of work in complicated conditions,” Lukashenka stressed. He also added: “But if someone offers us $3 billion, we will consider.”

Write your comment 38

Follow Charter97.org social media accounts