GAZ Group considers Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ trademark) as a long-term partner, director of Silovyie Agregaty Plant of Russia’s GAZ Group Igor Kulgan told reporters in Minsk on April 2.

According to him, “if the issue of possible privatization, converting into a joint stock company or purchasing of MAZ arises in the future, we will consider it.” Igor Kulgan said that GAZ Group would like to discuss this issue. Russia’s GAZ Group is a long-standing partner of Minsk Automobile Plant. Yaroslavl Avtodieseal which is part of the Group is the main supplier of diesel engines for Minsk Automobile Plant.

GAZ Group is Russia's largest automotive manufacturer of light commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, cars, diesel engines, power-train components and road construction equipment. GAZ Group was established in 2005 as a result of the restructuring of RusPromAuto's production assets. GAZ Group comprises 18 leading automotive and machine building producers in Russia and LDV Group in the UK.

SOURCE: National legal internet portal of the Republic of Belarus -- 5 May 2008