MINSK, 28 August (BelTA) – Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ trademark) has produced the first batch of school buses made as part of the nationwide School Bus program. The keys to the new vehicles were presented to Chairman of the Board of the Development Bank of Belarus Sergei Rumas by MAZ Director General Viktor Osnovsky in an official ceremony on 28 August, BelTA has learnt.
The program is implemented by the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus following the instructions of the Belarusian head of state. The project was launched in April 2013. By the start of the new academic year each oblast of Belarus will have 10 new school buses.
“Every child in our country, despite his/her place of residence, should have an opportunity to receive quality education. These buses will enable children from remote places to get safely to big villages with schools that provide an adequate level of education,” Sergei Rumas noted.
According to him, two thirds of Belarusian children are taken to schools by school buses and one third – by buses that are not designed to transport children. Thus, in line with the five-year program, the bank is committed to address the issue. “Three hundred is the minimum amount of buses that the Bank plans to purchase within the next five years. We are lifting the bar higher,” Sergei Rumas said. This year the Bank will allocate about Br32 billion to purchase 60 buses. In 2014 there are plans to increase the number of buses and to expand the sponsor support.
Apart from the production of special-purpose transport vehicles, the School Bus project envisages the training of drivers. By the way, all the drivers are women. This initiative was supported by the head of state. The Bank will also take a direct part in the organization of driving lessons in every oblast.
According to Sergei Rumas, the participation of the Development Bank in the program will not be limited to the acquisition of buses: “We will keep an eye on every bus: its operation, technical state, possible failures, and its exploitation in the rural area.”
Viktor Osnovsky noted that the company produces such buses not only as part of the Development Bank program: “Over 40 vehicles have been produced outside the program. They are successfully used both in the country and abroad. As for school buses, the overriding focus in their production is on safety and comfort requirements.”
Sergei Rumas gave the keys to 10 school buses to the female drivers of Mogilev Oblast.
Minsk Automobile Plant was founded in 1944. In 2009 it was reincorporated into the public joint-stock company OAO MAZ. In 2012 OAO MAZ became the management company of the holding company BelavtoMAZ. The company makes truck tractors, high-sided trucks, medium-capacity automobiles, dump trucks, log trucks, short log trucks, cross-country vehicles, automobiles fit for special equipment as well as buses and trolleybuses. MAZ offers over 500 models and modifications of freight vehicles and about 20 models of passenger vehicles.
OAO Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus was created in 2011 by the relevant presidential decree. The bank is designed to focus on financing government programs and socially important investment projects. The founders are the Council of Ministers and the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus.
Written by belta.by
