Lepel Dairy and Canning Plant to Attract 1 Million Euros in Investment During Year of Entrepreneurship

February 22, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Lepel Dairy Canned Goods Plant OJSC will attract 1 million euros in investments in the Year of Entrepreneurship, the enterprise's director Alexander Mikhailovsky told a BELTA correspondent. The investment project will be implemented jointly with a Russian investor at the Tolochin production branch. It is planned to launch the production of the popular semi-hard cheese "Cheddar" with a capacity of up to 10 tons of products per day. Currently, partners' shares in the authorized capital are being formed, and the specifics of the future joint venture's operation and product sales markets are being discussed. It is planned that the Russian partner will supply the necessary equipment for the production of "Cheddar" at the end of the third - beginning of the fourth quarter, and the commissioning of the new production is scheduled for 2012. In general, investments in the development of the plant in 2011 will amount to Br42 billion. The funds will be directed to the modernization of the drying facilities, the technical re-equipment of production capacities, the completion of the reconstruction of the calf shed and the construction of a new building for raising heifers at the "Zaozerye" agricultural production branch. Another new construction is related to the erection of a new boiler house, which will ensure the plant's needs for heat and electricity. "Thus, in the Year of Entrepreneurship, we will have to implement a whole series of projects that will help improve product quality, reduce its cost, and also bring the enterprise to a new level of activity and contribute to its development," stated Alexander Mikhailovsky. In 2010, Lepel Dairy Canned Goods Plant produced products worth Br212.6 billion, which amounted to 113.9% compared to 2009. Dairy products worth $46 million were exported (185.2%). The share of exports in the total sales volume was 62% compared to 40.7% in 2009. Supplies were made to Venezuela, Russia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan. The share of new types of products was 4%. Investments in fixed assets reached Br25.3 billion. The energy saving indicator was minus 16.5% with a target of minus 12%. Labor productivity increased by 12.9%. The enterprise was founded in 1951. It was reformed into an OJSC in 1998. The plant includes the "Zaozerye" agricultural production branch, the Tolochin butter and cheese factory, the Dokshitsy production workshop, and the Beshenkovichi milk reception point. It specializes in the production of whole milk products, skimmed milk powder, cheeses, and ice cream. The range of products manufactured includes more than 100 items. The average number of employees, including the agricultural branch, is over 1.1 thousand people. -0-