OREANDA-NEWS. April 23, 2009. Philips Lumileds Lighting company intends to start up joint production of LED lamps in Belarus. The plans were announced when Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky met with Jim Wade Miller, the company’s Executive Vice President for Global Sales, in Minsk, reported the Official website government.by.

The Council of Ministers of Belarus and Philips Lumileds Lighting have signed a memorandum of understanding to implement the project. According to the document the sides are in favour of setting up a joint venture specialised in selling, designing, and producing locally LED lamps.

Philips’ certified supplier Rena Electronica (the Netherlands) will be the partner of the Belarusian side.

According to the memorandum, the Belarusian government is supposed to give state preferences in the area of taxation and customs procedures to companies operating on the LED market, to provide government purchases of LED products, including those to be manufactured by the joint venture. In turn, Philips Lumileds Lighting will supply light-emitting diodes at producer prices to the joint venture and partners. Representatives of the company and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus will hold regular meetings to coordinate the project implementation.

Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky underscored, Belarus is interested in long-term strategic partnership with Philips. He was confident the joint venture will be successful on the home market and will export its sophisticated products to Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and other countries. “I am sure this project will contribute to further advancement of cooperation,” said the Premier.

In turn, Executive Vice President of Philips Lumileds Lighting Jim Wade Miller said that the memorandum is a very important step for the bilateral cooperation. He pointed out the high scientific potential of Belarus and the country’s strive for introducing new ecologically friendly technologies.

According to Jim Wade Miller, implementing the joint project in Belarus, it is very important to set up an enterprise utilising state-of-the-art technologies. In turn, Philips company is ready to do its best to make it happen.