Vitebsk Carpets OJSC has exported products worth $19.7 million since the beginning of the year.

August 26, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Since the beginning of 2011, Vitebsk Carpets OJSC has exported products worth $19.7 million, Deputy General Director of the enterprise Sergey Kolesnik informed a BELTA correspondent.

The growth rate of export supplies for the first seven months of the current year compared to the same period in 2010 was 120.8% with a positive foreign trade balance of $7.4 million.

As Sergey Kolesnik noted, the joint-stock company has created an extensive trade network abroad, which includes both branded stores and dealer networks. In July, the enterprise opened a branded store in Tula, which became the fifth in the Russian Federation. In Belarus, there are 19 retail outlets operating under the "Vitebsk Carpets" brand. As Sergey Kolesnik noted, the enterprise intends to further develop its branded retail network in Russia and Belarus, opening at least one store per quarter.

In the markets of other countries, Vitebsk Carpets will continue to work on expanding dealer networks and increasing the number of wholesale buyers. Currently, thanks to the existing sales network abroad, the joint-stock company carries out stable supplies of products to Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, Romania, Latvia, and Lithuania.

"Vitebskiye Kovry" is not curtailing its technical re-equipment program and continues to expand the range of import-substituting products and increase their volumes. If in 2010 the enterprise produced 9.5 million sq.m of carpet coverings, then by the end of 2011 "Vitebskiye Kovry" intends to increase production to 10 million sq.m. Over the past two years, fundamentally new coverings and scroll-type products with a combined pile creating a volumetric pattern have been mastered; woven and needle-punched shag-type coverings and products with a high cut pile made of highly twisted and heat-treated colored frieze yarn; woven carpet coverings and products with a pile base of BCF, Heat-set and Frize polypropylene yarns; mats made of synthetic yarns. By the end of the current year, "Vitebskiye Kovry" intends to replace two weaving looms with new ones – more productive and less energy-consuming. In addition, the enterprise will continue to work on expanding the palette of manufactured products.

The joint-stock company will build its long-term technical re-equipment plan based on global trends in carpet weaving production. At the end of September, a delegation from the enterprise will travel to Spain to a specialized exhibition of modern equipment and technologies in order to determine the further production development strategy.

The carpet mill in Vitebsk was founded in 1947 and transformed into a joint-stock company in 1994. The state owns 51.1% of the shares. It is part of the "Bellegprom" concern. Currently, "Vitebskiye Kovry" has mastered all types of products manufactured by machine. The color range can be composed of eight colors. About 70% of the products manufactured are exported. The enterprise employs 1.3 thousand people. Based on the results of work for seven months of 2011, products worth Br10.7 billion were produced at current prices, with a growth rate of almost 180% compared to January-July 2010.-0-