The modernization of enterprises is one of the priority development programs of the Vitebsk region - A. Kosinets

September 25, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Modernization of industrial enterprises is one of the priority development programs for the Vitebsk region in the coming years. This was stated by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, in an interview with a BELTA correspondent. The issue of modernizing industrial enterprises, which the head of state raised at a meeting on the economy's performance for the past period of 2012, assessing the year's results and the draft forecast, budget, and monetary policy for 2013, is particularly relevant for the Vitebsk region. Approximately 90% of the fixed assets of industrial enterprises are worn out or obsolete. In addition, the region has another important goal – to reduce the share of oil refining enterprises in the total industrial output to 35% by increasing the share of other enterprises. First of all, this concerns the development of radio electronics, mechanical engineering, and processing industries, which also require modernization. That is precisely why the region adopted the Industry Development Program for the period up to 2015 in 2009, which defined the tasks for each enterprise to produce competitive innovative products. The result of the implementation of this program was the growth of exports of enterprises of communal property. In January-August of the current year, the export growth rate was 404%. The positive balance of foreign trade turnover for this period exceeded $1.4 billion, compared to the planned $290 million. The renewal of production capacities at milk processing and meat processing enterprises in the region is nearing completion. At the same time, Alexander Kosinets is convinced that enterprises need to more actively involve university and academic science in the implementation of this program. -0-