Stadler leaving Belarusian market – Lithuania

June 22, BPN. Swiss train manufacturer Stadler is leaving Belarus, Lithuanian Transport Minister Marius Skuodis has told lawmakers in Vilnius, according to LRT.

The move comes amid western sanctions on the Belarusian government, a close ally of Vladimir Putin.

Stadler will manufacture €200 million worth of battery-powered trains for the Lithuanian rail freight company, LTG Cargo, without using any parts made in Belarus, the minister said.

Stadler opened a branch in Fanipal, Minsk region, in 2014. The plant was reported to have an initial annual capacity of 120 cars.

The Swiss company has not yet announced its withdrawal from Belarus but said last year that it “sought to maintain a minimum level of projects and orders.”

In December 2022, the Belarusian leader encouraged authorities to take over companies abandoned by foreign owners.

“If someone leaves, let them leave. Don’t stop anyone, but immediately take this enterprise in your hands,” he told a meeting in Minsk, the state-run television channel ONT reported. “From now on, it is your property.”

Dozens of foreign companies have left Belarus after Russia invaded Ukraine from its territory in February 2022.

In July 2022, the government prohibited foreign shareholders from disposing of shares in Belarusian businesses without its authorization.

In November 2022, Łukašenka said that foreign-owned companies would be nationalized if their owners tried to pull out.