"VISTAN" plant is developing a comprehensive development program

March 26, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. A comprehensive program for the development of the republican unitary enterprise (RUE) "VISTAN" for the period 2010-2011 will be developed at the enterprise, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Kosinets told reporters today during a visit to the plant, according to a BELTA correspondent. The program implementation aims to increase the production of industrial products and consumer goods, boost exports, and raise employee wages. The main areas of the enterprise's work for the next two years should include technical re-equipment (the wear and tear of fixed assets is 95%), the development and production of innovative equipment, import-substituting consumer goods, and an increase in the product range. According to preliminary estimates, about Br80 billion is needed for the technical re-equipment of the "VISTAN" plant. At the same time, the plant, which specializes in the production of screw-cutting lathes, gear-cutting machines, and grinding semi-automatic machines, can produce some of the equipment itself. The Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee also demanded that the comprehensive enterprise development program pay serious attention to creating favorable and safe working conditions for employees. Similar programs will also be developed for other machine-building plants in the region: "Visas," "Krasny Borets," and the tool plant. RUE "VISTAN" is one of the oldest machine-building enterprises in the republic and traces its history back to 1914. The enterprise produces more than 50 basic models of semi-automatic machines. The quality management system for machine tool production is certified in accordance with the ISO 9001-2001 standard. Based on the results of work in January-February of the current year, the production growth rate was 103.8%, the consumer goods growth rate was 104.75%, and profitability was 4%. The enterprise cooperates with manufacturers in 11 countries. The export volume for two months amounted to 60% of the same period in 2009. More than 800 people work at the plant, with an average salary of Br735 thousand. -0-