OREANDA-NEWS. September 28, 2009. The Chinese corporation Dong Jin Group is implementing a project to grow table variety grapes in film-type unheated greenhouses in the Gomel oblast. The relevant agreement was reached at a meeting of the Heilongjiang province delegation with the Gomel oblast administration in Gomel on 25 September.

According to Dong Jin Group, several thousand hectares of greenhouses in the Heilongjiang province are used to cultivate grapes, which can be used as food or used to manufacture grape wines and cognacs. Chinese specialists are ready to use their experience in southern parts of Belarus where the climate is similar to that of their province.

It was decided that initially 100-200 hectares of land 50 km far from Gomel will be allocated for building greenhouses. The investor will be aided with machines and materials. If proven viable, the operation will be extended up to the economically sound size.

Belarus’ need for table variety grapes is estimated at 6,000-7,000 tonnes. The greenhouses can produce up to 6 tonnes of grapes per hectare.

The next day Gomselmash and Dong Jin Group are expected to sign an agreement on setting up an enterprise in China for joint assembly of forage harvesters Palesse FS60. The Belarusian company will provide harvester assembly sets while the Chinese side will take care of assembling, tuning and pre-sale preparation. Up to 100 harvesters will be assembled initially per annum.