Chinese Government provides RMB 39 million grant — via ETCA — for Railway Inspection Complex Construction Project

Project narrative

On June 9, 2015, the Chinese Government and the Government of Belarus signed letters of exchange, which committed RMB 39 million of grant funding for the Railway Inspection Complex Construction Project. The grant proceeds were drawn from an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) that the parties signed on September 18, 2011. The project involved the construction of an inspection complex — in the vicinity of Zarechitsa park of Brest-Severny railway station — for the customs authorities of the Republic of Belarus to scan freight trains crossing the Belarus-Poland border. The ultimate purpose of the project was to combat international terrorism and smuggling of weapons, drugs, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages and other goods. Nuctech Company Limited was the contractor responsible for implementation. On June 9, 2015, the Agreement has been signed between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the implementation of the project of construction and supply to the customs authorities of the Republic of Belarus of the X-ray inspection complex for the control of goods transported by rail. On August 11, 2015, contract was signed with the company “Nuctech Company Limited” for the “turnkey” supply of X-ray inspection complex. Nuctech Company Limited appears to have hired a local subcontractor — OJSC Construction Trust No. 8 of Brest — to assist with the construction of the railway inspection complex. In December 2015, the equipment for the construction of a railway inspection complex was successfully delivered by Nuctech Company Limited. In May 2016, construction of the inspection complex began. The complex was subsequently commissioned in January 2017 and an official inauguration ceremony took place on February 14, 2017.