Vitebsk region enterprises should be more active in the domestic market – Oleg Matskevich

This opinion was expressed by the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee at an exhibition showcasing the production potential of the northern region. This presentation preceded the ceremony of awarding the Government Prize for achievements in the field of quality, and manufacturers from the Vitebsk region were traditionally among its laureates.

This opinion was expressed by the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee at an exhibition showcasing the production potential of the northern region.

This presentation preceded the ceremony of awarding the Government Prize for achievements in the field of quality, and manufacturers from the Vitebsk region were traditionally among its laureates. Visitors to the exposition, including representatives of trade networks in our region, became acquainted with the quality of their goods and their ability to present themselves. The dialogue between producers and sellers helped to understand what and how to sell in order to be esteemed by the buyer.

– Today, more than ever, the relevance of stocking our store shelves with domestic goods is increasing. The crisis made it clear that we cannot do without the domestic market; we cannot live on the external market alone, – noted Oleg Matskevich, speaking with the press. – How to attract people? With quality and price. What we have done in recent years in terms of modernizing meat and dairy and food industry plants, opening new enterprises, and mastering innovative products is bearing fruit. For example, OJSC "Moloko" is finally producing excellent crumbly cottage cheese, the kind we used to see in Vilnius, and today it is on the shelves of our retail outlets. And there are many similar examples.

However, to successfully sell in the domestic market, it is necessary to work on reducing production costs, improving consumer qualities, and keeping up with the times, however банально it may sound. Today, as is known, healthy eating and environmentally friendly products are in trend. Oleg Sergeevich reported that the authorities are working to ensure that the corresponding inscription is on the products of enterprises in the Vitebsk region, which implement the principle "from field to table". In addition, it is planned to create the first store of environmentally friendly goods in Vitebsk, again from our producers. The Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee strongly recommends paying attention to the packaging, the external appearance and convenience of which largely determine whether the product will be in demand.

– The competition is crazy, you can't do anything with administrative bans, everything depends on the enterprise itself, its approaches, – Oleg Matskevich is confident. – To work successfully and keep the team, you need to compete, change structurally, and produce only those products that will be in demand in domestic and foreign markets.

The exhibition featured leading food, clothing, and footwear manufacturers. Here you could see both long-loved products – Polotsk glazed cheesecakes, Postavy and Verkhnedvinsk cheeses, Vitebsk milk, Miory delicacies, and much more, as well as new products from manufacturers. In their opinion, only by remembering traditions and constantly moving forward can one occupy one's niche in the market and successfully compete today.

Read about which manufacturers received the Government Prize for achievements in quality and other awards in the next issue of "Vitebskiye Vesti".

Olga Maslovskaya,