The airfield in Bolbasovo, Orsha district, will be able to handle international cargo transportation

The issue of granting international status to the airfield's runway at the "Bremіno-Orsha" multimodal industrial and logistics complex in the urban settlement of Bolbasovo must be resolved in the coming months. This directive was given by the Prime Minister of Belarus, Andrei Kobyakov, during his visit to the settlement by participants of the field meeting of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers.

The "Bremіno-Orsha" complex is a large-scale project to enhance Belarus's investment potential, implemented by "Bremіno Group" LLC in accordance with the President's decree and serving as an example of public-private partnership. The complex includes logistics and trade-industrial zones with an adjacent airfield, railway, and international transport routes, which will make it a hub for transit cargo. However, for greater efficiency, the runway needs to be granted international status. This would allow international cargo air transportation to be carried out directly to Orsha, without intermediate customs clearance stops. In general, investors and the management of "Bremіno Group" LLC insist on granting the complex equal operating conditions with "Great Stone". "I see no problem," noted Andrei Kobyakov. "Just as the document for 'Great Stone' was prepared, we will resolve the issue for Orsha. The international status of the runway needs to be established within the next couple of months."

An interdepartmental working group, which the Prime Minister has tasked with creating, will handle the elaboration of this issue, as well as other nuances that will be included in a subsequent Council of Ministers resolution (investment procedures, provision of benefits, forms of ownership of the facility). A separate decree will also be prepared regarding the operation of the entire complex, including within the customs space. According to Vasily Dementey, Director of "Bremіno Group", granting international status to the runway will serve as a guarantee for the company, as well as for the Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant, to invest in the runway's re-equipment (which includes lighting, fencing, special equipment, and control towers). Approximately Br17 million will be required for these purposes. The total construction area of the multimodal industrial and logistics complex

"Bremeno-Orsha" - 230 hectares, the complex's territory is part of the Vitebsk FEZ. Future residents will have access to a full range of services for customs clearance of goods, phytosanitary control, warehouse services, services of banks, logistics and insurance companies, and so on.

"The first phase - an access road, a warehouse building and a vehicle terminal of the logistics site - will be commissioned in 2018. There is cargo traffic, so the load will be ensured," assured Vasily Dementey. - In parallel with the construction, we organized work at a temporary site in Orsha to form transport flows and train personnel. Already at the first stage, we will create at least 100 jobs here. In the future, we plan to build a railway terminal and industrial production facilities. This will also create jobs, which will significantly boost not only Bolbasovo, but the entire Orsha region in economic terms. Business activity will increase, and prospects for attracting foreign investment will appear."

Ekaterina Knyazeva - BELTA.