Chandigarh, Dec 18 (IANS): Belarus, a land-locked country west of Russia, has proposed to set up an engine assembly and manufacturing unit of Minsk Motor in Haryana.

The state government has offered to provide land for the plant at an appropriate location.

"Minsk Motor company is also manufacturing a maximum number of tractor and combine harvester engines annually. We are looking forward to set up a big unit in Haryana," Ambassador Vitaly A. Prima said after a meeting with Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Minsk Motor is the largest Belarusian Company and a leading manufacturer of diesel engines of 50-350 horse power for various applications like automobiles, tractor, and road building machinery, buses, and combine harvesters. These engines are easy to operate and require little maintenance.

Hooda has assured the Belarus officials that Minsk Motor could set up its unit either at the industrial model township area in Rohtak or at other industrial townships which would soon come up in the state. Hooda has offered full support of the state government to Belarus for setting up this unit in Haryana.

"Haryana has become a popular destination for the national and international companies to set up their ventures, and considering the industrial friendly atmosphere being provided by the State government, Belarus has selected Haryana as the proper place to set up this unit," said Prima.

Haryana and Belarus, a former Soviet republic, are also looking forward to set up trade relations in the fields of agriculture marketing, packaging and storage of food grains.