The state will promote the expansion of space technology production areas in Belarus - A. Lukashenko

July 21, Minsk /BELTA/. In the future, revenues from the operation of Belarus's space industry enterprises should reach $1 billion. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated this on July 20 while visiting Peleng OJSC, BELTA was informed by the press service of the Belarusian leader. "The country should have a different image. This sector needs to reach billion-dollar milestones. We will help with what is needed. These are new frontiers, a new national mentality," Alexander Lukashenko said. He instructed to identify advanced areas, based on the existing scientific and technical base in the republic, where Belarus can independently produce high-tech and highly competitive products. Subsequently, about 10 most promising areas will be selected from these, and talented specialists will be engaged in their implementation. "Seeders, tractors, combines are good, but space technologies are what's important. We need to set clear tasks for everyone: go and do it, if you don't want to, leave," the head of state emphasized. The President familiarized himself with the enterprise's latest developments. He inspected the design department, assembly sections for optomechanical units, surface mounting, as well as the assembly of space technology at the "Cosmos" scientific and design department, and the X-ray laboratory. Today, the main focus of Peleng OJSC is the creation of civilian-purpose devices and developments in the field of space technologies. The enterprise specializes in the development and production of guidance systems, space topographic survey equipment and photogrammetric technology, trajectory measurement devices, as well as various civilian-purpose devices. In particular, the enterprise created equipment for the Belarusian spacecraft BelKA, the launch of which is planned for the first quarter of 2011. The decision to create a Belarusian satellite and work in this area has allowed the enterprise to have stable orders for its developments. Throughout its history, Peleng OJSC has participated in the launch of 35 spacecraft. Equipment produced in Belarus is currently installed, for example, on Russian Konopus satellites. The enterprise produces various optoelectronic equipment. The comparison microscope, used by forensic experts, is in high demand. Peleng OJSC has also mastered the production of a wide range of meteorological equipment for weather stations. Currently, such a weather station is undergoing testing at one of the airfields in Russia. In addition, the enterprise specializes in the development and production of security systems for borders and various facilities. As noted by Vladimir Pokrishkin, General Director of the enterprise, Peleng OJSC has orders for its products and specific proposals from foreign partners. Currently, the order portfolio under negotiation amounts to about $130 million. The enterprise operates profitably, is financially stable, and fulfills all obligations under concluded contracts and agreements. Contracts totaling Br169 billion have already been concluded for 2011 (95% of the planned volume for 2010). Significant funds were invested in the modernization and development of production, which allowed mastering the production of new competitive products. However, the enterprise does not rest on its laurels. Thus, the President inspected the construction of a new building for the assembly and testing of space technology. It was decided that all construction work on the facility should be completed by November 7 of this year, after which the building can be equipped with the necessary equipment (which has already been purchased). It is noteworthy that a significant part of the equipment for the production and testing of space equipment was created by Belarusian specialists. Today, according to Vladimir Pokrishkin, it can be confidently stated that an independent sub-sector of industry – space technology production – has been created in our country. Alexander Lukashenko, summing up the day's work at Peleng OJSC, emphasized that the state will certainly invest the necessary funds in the development of this sub-sector and promote the expansion of space technology production in Belarus. Leaving the construction site, which was the last item on the agenda of the visit to Peleng OJSC, Alexander Lukashenko drew attention to the unsightly warehouse and production facilities belonging to the BelOMO enterprise, particularly the metal cutting workshop. The head of state entered the workshop, after which he instructed the city authorities, together with the enterprise management, to work out the possibility of relocating this production to another location, emphasizing that these premises should be used more effectively. This refers not just to relocation, but essentially to the creation of a more modern and efficient production facility.-0-