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Belarusian government delegation holds talks with KamAZ managers

 

A Belarusian government delegation led by First Deputy Prime Minister Uladzimir Syamashka held talks with top managers of Russia’s truck company KamAZ in Naberezhnye Chelny on Thursday.

The Belarusian delegation included Industry Minister Dzmitry Katsyarynich, Viktar Asnowski, director general of Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ), and Syarhey Pyatkow, first deputy head of the State Property Committee, according to the KamAZ press office.

The delegation was met by KamAZ Director General Sergei Kogogin, Ravil Zaripov, deputy prime minister of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, and Renat Milkamanavichyus, a representative of Russia’s federal trade ministry, the press office said.

Although the talks were held behind closed doors, it is known that they focused on the possibility of a merger between the two truck giants.

While staying in Naberezhnye Chelny, the Belarusian delegation visited various facilities of KamAZ and Cummins-Kama, a diesel engine manufacturer owned by KamAZ and US-based Cummins.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka said in his annual address to the nation and the National Assembly last month that he doubted the need for a link-up between MAZ and KamAZ.

Minsk Automobile Plant does business in the same market as KamAZ, and its vehicles are not inferior in terms of quality or price, the Belarusian leader said.

He expressed doubt that MAZ would receive any funds from Russia for modernization purposes in the event of a link-up. According to Mr. Lukashenka, KamAZ stakeholders in Germany and the United States want to take control of MAZ because they view it as a competitor and want to close it.

In an interview with BelaPAN later that month, Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Surikov dismissed fears that Germany’s Daimler would close KamAZ.

The link-up project currently provides for MAZ and KamAZ to make equal contributions to a joint holding company, Rosbelavto, Mr. Surikov said.

The sale of shares and other ownership issues are not under consideration at present, he said.

Minsk Automobile Plant’s share of the Russian market of trucks weighing between 14 and 40 tons was 7.4 percent as of April 1, 2013, or half of that it had been a year before.

In February 2011, Russia proposed a deal whereby KamAZ would hold 100 percent of MAZ, while the Belarusian government would receive a stake in the Russian company in exchange. Minsk, for its part, proposed establishing a joint holding company, Rosbelavto, which would have 49-percent stakes in both MAZ and KamAZ.

Heorhiy Kuznyatsow, head of the State Property Committee, revealed in February 2013 that Belarus and Russia had finally agreed to the values of MAZ and KamAZ set as a result of appraisals. Belarus would contribute a 75-percent stake in MAZ to Rombelavto, while Russia would contribute a 49-percent stake in KaMAZ, he said.

According to Mr. Kuznyatsow, Belarus would be able to veto decisions unfavorable to MAZ after the link-up. // BelaPAN