OREANDA-NEWS. July 12, 2013. State officials of Russia and Latvia and managers of URALVAGONZAVOD and UVZ Baltija marked the start of construction of a railway car building plant in Jelgava by immuring a time-capsule with a message to future generations during a formal ceremony.

President of Latvia Andris Berzins, Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Denis Manturov, Chief Executive Officer of OJSC "RPC "URALVAGONZAVOD" Oleg Sienko took part in the ceremony.

"This plant is more than just a new production facility. It symbolizes renaissance of the whole branch of the machine building industry in Latvia, which is production of freight railway cars. It testifies to the successful synergy of URALVAGONZAVOD technological competence and Jelgavian traditions of machine building"- these are words which make part of the message to future generations signed by the above officials.

The construction of UVZ Baltija railway car building plant designed by a Latvian design bureau is to be completed in 12-15 months in the territory of the former Jelgavian sugar factory. Initially about 200 jobs will be created by the plant of UVZ Baltija. The amount of investment into the project planned by UVZ Baltija will total 20 million euros. This amount includes both construction costs and expenses related to procurement of equipment and technologies. The investment is aimed at creation of a modern production facility which will assemble various types of freight railway cars including flat, tank, hopper, grain cars and a 21-meter-long box car, and will ensure high-quality of the products.

UVZ Baltija has received all the necessary environmental certificates and has submitted the draft project designs to the respective competent agencies. Based on this work a construction permit will be obtained in the middle of June and will enable the company to start zero-cycle construction works. The enterprise plans to put out an international tender for the construction of the plant and the railway siding facilities.

The railway car plant will start operation to its full capacity in early 2015. The plant will be specialized in assembly of railway cars, their maintenance and repair. The assembly target is set at 2000 various freight cars per year, while the turnover target is 80 million lats. The finished products of the enterprise are to be supplied to the Baltic States and the CIS, and in the future to western markets as well.