Belarus's construction industry earned about half a billion dollars from the export of materials in 2012

The construction industry of Belarus earned about half a billion dollars from the export of building materials. This was stated today by the Minister of Architecture and Construction of Belarus, Anatoly Nichkasov, in response to a question from a BELTA correspondent during a visit to the under-construction workshops of OJSC "Vitebskdrev".

This year, construction industry enterprises exported products amounting to 144-145% of the planned volume. The total volume of export supplies is estimated at approximately $500 million, the minister said.

Speaking about major projects implemented this year, Anatoly Nichkasov recalled the launch of the fifth technological line at RUP "Granit" for the production of 3 million tons of crushed stone per year. The enterprise has been operating at its design capacity for two months. Two cement plants with a capacity of 1.8 million tons each have been commissioned. By the end of the year, another cement plant is planned to be commissioned in Krichev with the participation of a Chinese investor. New capacities for the production of ceramic tiles for facade cladding have been launched at OJSC "Keramin". The modernization of large-panel housing construction plants is nearing completion.

All these products are in demand abroad, as are the services of Belarusian builders, the minister emphasized. In his opinion, the export of services for organizing work using Belarusian building materials could be promising for Belarus. "It is possible to organize the work of engineers, providing technologies and exporting house-building products. We are capable of doing this, and we will try it out," he added. At the same time, in order to compete in the markets, it is necessary to reduce costs and save resources, which will allow reducing the prime cost of products, the minister believes.

Diana Kurilo – BELTA