JSC "Vitebsk Carpets" has begun the certification of its products in the European Union

November 19, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Open Joint Stock Company (OJSC) "Vitebsk Carpets" has begun the certification of its products in the European Union, Deputy General Director for Commercial Affairs of the joint-stock company Sergey Kolesnik told a BELTA correspondent. Obtaining a European quality certificate will allow the enterprise to increase exports and become a full-fledged player in the European carpet market. Currently, the joint-stock company's products are exported to Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and the Baltic States. With the receipt of the EU certificate, Romania and Finland, where buyers have already shown interest in Vitebsk carpets, may be added to this list. The joint-stock company sends about 70% of its manufactured products abroad. According to the results of 10 months of the current year, the volume of export supplies is estimated at $22.6 million. By the end of the year, it is planned to increase the production volume to 9.4 million square meters of carpet products, while in 2009 the enterprise produced 7.5 million square meters of carpets. The growth rate of production volumes for the 10 months of the current year was 113.8% compared to the same period last year. The enterprise's development project for the next five years provides for a 44% increase in the production of carpet products in 2015 compared to the 2011 level. According to Sergey Kolesnik, this plan is feasible. Over the period of 2008-2010 alone, Br29 billion was invested in equipment modernization. This allowed "Vitebsk Carpets" to master all types of machine-made products, from synthetic tufted carpets to high-density woven carpets with hand-carved relief patterns, and to significantly increase labor productivity. Thanks to new equipment, the color range of Vitebsk carpets includes 8 colors. Sergey Kolesnik also added that the main suppliers of raw materials for the enterprise are Belarusian manufacturers. Open Joint Stock Company "Vitebsk Carpets" is an enterprise with mixed ownership without foreign participation, with the predominant share of the state (51.1%) in the authorized fund. It is part of the Belarusian State Concern for the Light Industry. -0-