Belarus expands international cooperation at Hannover Messe

Scientific and educational institutions of Belarus have agreed on cooperation with companies of the Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, Bulgaria, China, Russia and Germany. The relevant agreements have been reached at Hannover Messe which is underway in Germany on 7-11 April, Deputy Director, head of the Belinterexpo department of foreign exhibitions under the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Yevgeny Vvedensky told BelTA.

Belarus is widely represented at the German industrial fair. Belarusian companies have occupied 235 square meters in five sections of the expo. The section, Research and Technology, features a collective stand organized by the State Science and Technology Committee displaying the research and latest developments by the universities and scientific organizations of the Education Ministry and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB). Partaking in the expo is Belarusian State University, Belarusian National Technical University, Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, Belarusian State Technological University, Grodno State University, Polotsk State University and other educational establishments. Besides, taking part in the fair are three NASB institutions: Tsentr research and production association, the Stepanov Institute of Physics, the NASB scientific practical center on materials technology as well as the private manufacturing plant Polimerkonstruktsia (Vitebsk).

On the first day of the exhibition representatives of the Belarusian educational institutions held talks and signed a number of agreements on cooperation with foreign companies of the Czech Republic and Saudi Arabia (water treatment technology), Bulgaria (cooperation in the production of laboratory equipment and geodetic measurements). Belarus inked agreements with Chinese companies to develop cooperation in compostable packaging for the food industry and the ones with Germany to cooperate in the use of viscose fiber for composition materials. There was also discussed a possibility to supply viscose fiber and develop microwave equipment for the agricultural sector. Russian companies showed keen interest in Belarusian polymer materials resistant to the temperature of minus 60-120 degrees. Apart from that, Belarusian scientists concluded agreements of intent with a Russian company to develop protospectral systems for the aviation sector and with Russian universities to work on geodynamic research and earth remote sensing.

“The stand of Belarusian scientific and educational establishments at Hannover Messe enjoys great popularity among foreign partners. They are attracted by the value for money approach in the search for new industrial and scientific materials and technology, and Belarusian scientists offer a great variety of promising developments. German, Austrian, Bulgarian and Czech companies suggested us participation in the EU sci-tech programs, which testifies to a high level of the Belarusian science,” a Belinterexpo representative quoted head of the science and innovation department of the Education Ministry of Belarus Vasily Safonov as saying.

Belarus is represented in the section, Industry, by the Novogrudok Gas-Fitting Plant (Novogas trademark), Vityaz Company, Vizas Plant and other companies subordinate to the Industry Ministry. Partaking in the section, Digital Technology, is SaM Solutions, a Hi-Tech Park resident. “The company is displaying a model of a building which elements can be managed distantly with the help of a sensor screen, i.e. open and close the gate, doors and windows, turn on and off the light and so on. It is an example of a smart home which can be managed from far away with the use of software,” Yevgeny Vvedensky said.

On display in the section, Energy, is Novopolotsk-based producer of toroidal transformers Yudzen, Minsk Electrotechnical Plant named after V.I.Kozlov, and the Sci-Tech Center of Combine Harvester Building. “Belarusian transformers attract European companies as the manufacturing of this equipment in Europe is an expensive and complicated process while the quality of the analogue product from the countries of the Asian region draws unfavorable criticism,” Yevgeny Vvedensky stated.

A number of investment projects have been presented in the section, Global Business and Global Markets, by the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Administration of FEZ Minsk and the Administration of FEZ Grodnoinvest as well as the Industrial Park Development Company which offers the participants and guests of the exhibition to consider an opportunity of becoming residents of the China-Belarus Industrial Park that is currently built in Smolevichi District, Minsk Oblast.

The Hannover industrial fair was visited by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Germany Andrei Giro. After seeing the national exposition of Belarus the diplomat suggesting an international conference next year in close cooperation with the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss the Belarusian economy and the country’s investment potential.

Yevgeny Vvedensky stressed: “The participation in exhibitions of the kind and level provides a chance for Belarusian companies to show themselves on the international market, find key business partners, establish trading relations. It is important to understand that, on the one hand, the target geographical sphere is not limited to the hosting country since such events are usually attended by businessmen and specialists from all over the world. On the other hand, one should clearly see that the very fact of participation in the exhibition is insufficient for establishing promising business contacts. Proper preparations for the exhibition and well-organized work on it are the key to success.”

Hannover Messe is the world’s biggest industrial event which attracts over 200,000 visitors a year. The area as large as 240,000 square meters features inventions and products of more than 5,000 companies worldwide. The exhibition is a big trading platform for industrial technology, appliances and materials.

Belinterexpo of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the operator of the Belarusian national exposition at Hannover Messe.