Vitebsk Carpets seeks to get EU certificate

VITEBSK, 19 November (BelTA) – The Vitebsk Carpets company has started certifying its products in the European Union, BelTA learnt from Deputy Director General of the company Sergei Kolesnik. A European certificate will enable the company to boost exports and secure a foothold on the European market. At present, the company exports to Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and the Baltic states. The EU certificate will add new export destinations, like Romania and Finland viewed as new promising markets of the Vitebsk-based company. About 70% of the company’s products are sold abroad. In January-October 2010, the enterprise exported products worth $22.6 million. The company expects to manufacture some 9.4 million square meters of carpets in 2010 vs. 75. million square meters a year ago. In January-October this year, the production grew 13.8% over the same period last year. The company’s development strategy provides for a 44% production growth in 2015 compared with 2011. According to Sergei Kolesnik, this goal is quite feasible. In 2008-2010 alone, Br29 billion was invested in the upgrade of the equipment. This allowed Vitebsk Carpets to roll out new products and increase labor efficiency. Sergei Kolesnik added that the company’s major suppliers are domestic producers. Vitebsk Carpets is an enterprise of mixed form of ownership, the state being the major stakeholder (51.1%). The company is affiliated with the Belarusian State Light Industry Concern.

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