The problem of bringing the textile branch to high level is the primary branch-wide task of the scientific-and-technical activities of Concern Bellegprom for the years 2007-2010.

The implementation of this scientific project in the light industry will be carried out in the following directions of development of the textile technologies:

1. Development of the technology of refinement of cottonized flax fibre for the purpose of ensuring the manufacture of high-quality flax-containing products as well as obtaining the purely flax yarn from them using various spinning systems for manufacturing the domestic articles;
2. Development and mastering of the technologies of utilization of the low-grade flax fibre for producing non-woven fabrics and technical-purpose products and applying them in the automobile and tractor production, furniture, car-building and other branches of industry;
3. Development of the processes for producing yarns of cottonized flax fibre with the use of combing and launching of their production;
4. Development of the low-waste technologies in the textile industry on the basis of new methods of processing the textile waste;
5. Development and mastering of energy-saving technologies for producing the prospective multicomponent yarns, textile and knitted fabrics with the use of new kinds of man-made fibres and threads of the domestic and foreign production;
6. Development and mastering of the ecologically safe technologies for finishing the fabrics including the knitted ones at the textile-branch enterprises with the use of biologically active enzymic preparations and special effects for the purpose of improvement of the quality of the textile, knitted and sewn articles as well as reduction of the expenses for sewage treatment.

The second major integrated production is the footwear industry. The expansion of the assortment of the domestic footwear, which shall be elegant, comfortable satisfying the fashion requirements and capable of competing with progressively growing quantity of imported footwear in the market is only possible with the use of modern materials, technologies as well as designing methods.

It is planned to carry out the scientific research in the following priority directions:

1. Development of new kinds of finishing of the upper of footwear based on chemical materials and mechanical methods for imparting the various external effects and high quality parameters to the footwear as well as on new synthetic and natural materials for footwear production;
2. Development of new kinds of textile materials for the internal, interim and external parts of the footwear with the use of new kinds of fibres and threads;
3. Development of the size topology of foots and shanks for various gender and age groups of the population for the purpose of satisfying more completely the population’s demand for convenient footwear;
4. Development of new modern footwear production technologies and methods of its designing.

The priority directions of the scientific research in other branches of the light industry for the years 2007-2010 are:

1. Development of new technologies of production, finishing and designing the knitwear and sewn ready-made garments, leather articles, artificial leather as well as products of leather haberdashery and porcelain-and-faience branch;
2. Development and launching the production of the process equipment for the light industry enterprises with the use of up-to-date achievements in the field of machine building and CAD systems.

By the year 2010, the implementation of the programme measures will make it possible to increase the share of innovative products in the total volume of the products shipped up to 9 per cent; share of the certified products in the total production volume up to 65.9 per cent; to reduce the degree of wear of the active part of the fixed industrial and production-related assets down to 74 per cent and to increase the share of expenses for the equipment, tools and inventory in the investments in the fixed capital up to 87 per cent.

1. Creation of new production facilities at the operating enterprises

The main obstacle for manufacturing the competitive products of the light industry is the high degree of wear of the active part of the fixes production-related assets and, primarily, machines and equipment. Due to the lack of funds within the last 15 years (the main source of financing of the investments in the past years were the own funds of the organizations, namely 75 per cent and more in the total volume), the annual renewal of the fixed assets and their active part was not more than 2 per cent, and 2.4 per cent in 2005 that has resulted in their considerable wear. The wear of the fixes production-related assets was 63.7 per cent, including that of the active part of 86.7 per cent in the Concern as of January 1, 2006.

The requirements of the today’s market for the quality, materials and design of the light industry production are connected directly with introducing the new technologies, which are, due to the branch specificity, inseparable from introduction of lings of high-grade and expensive equipment. The solution of this problem is directly related to the increase of the innovative level of the light industry.

Proceeding from the aforesaid, the Concern proposes the modernization of the existing production facilities by purchasing the new equipment with introducing the new and the advanced technologies of manufacture of the light industry products, carrying out the R&D works for the purpose of the development and introduction of the processes for producing the new kinds of yarns, textile materials and ready-made articles; carrying out the economic researches aimed at the increase of the labour productivity, reduction of the material intensity, power-resource consumption, standardization and certification as well as the development of the scientific and technical information; as well as increase of the level of the material and technical basis of the subordinated scientific institutions and innovation potential of the branch.

The situation related to attracting the investments in the branch can be only improved radically by providing the organizations with the state support in the form of:

1. exemption of the goods imported to the customs territory of the Republic of Belarus for satisfying the internal needs, for technical re-equipment, modernization of production and repair of the equipment from the value-added tax and customs duties;
2. exemption from paying the duties to the Republican Foundation for Supporting the Producers of Agricultural Products, Foods and Agrarian Science and transferring the same to the innovative foundation to be formed by Bellegprom Concern;
3. granting the deferral of repayment of the indebtedness till December 31, 2011 to the organizations having indebtedness as of July 1, 2006:

for paying the taxes and other obligatory amounts to the Republican and local budgets including those related to fines and penalties;

for repaying the budgetary loans;

for repaying the bank credits including those for payment for using the credits;

1. granting the deferral of repayment of the indebtedness till December 31, 2008 to the organizations having indebtedness as of July 1, 2006 for the consumed gas, electric and heat power;
2. providing the grants from the Republican Budget for financing the investments in the technical re-equipment of Orsha Flax Processing Complex Republican Unitary Production and Trade Enterprise to the amount of 60 billion roubles in the years 2006-2010.

2. Modernization of the operating facilities on the basis of introducing the advanced (new and high) technologies.

The complex plan of technical re-equipment of the largest organizations of the branch for the years 2006-2010 provides for their global re-equipment with the account of the state support. It is planned to assign 440,443 million roubles or 64.7 per cent of the total volume of investments for the renewal of the active part of these organizations. The modernization of the operating facilities of the branch with rendering the state support will make it possible to upgrade the active part of the fixed assets by 50 per cent, increase the output of competitive products in the year 2010 by 1,048 billion roubles and reduce the import of the similar products by 887 billion roubles.

Baranovichi Cotton Production Association Republican Unitary Enterprise plans to complete the technical re-equipment of the spinning facilities and reconstruction of the weaving and finishing facilities in the years 2007-2010 with purchasing the equipment to the amount of 26,301 million roubles. The technical re-equipment for the years 2006-2010 only will make it possible to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 47,660 million roubles and to reduce the import of the similar products to the Republic by 13,483 thousand running metres.

The following measures are provided for the years 2007-2010:

1. At Gronitex State Republican Unitary Production Enterprise (city of Grodno): completion of the technical re-equipment of the spinning facilities with purchasing the equipment to the amount of 13 982 million roubles. For the years 2006-2010, the technical re-equipment will make it possible to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 21,932 million roubles and to reduce the import of the commercial yarn to the Republic by 1,896 tons;
2. At Mogotex Open Joint-Stock Company: technical re-equipment of the weaving, dyeing  and finishing facilities with purchasing the equipment to the amount of 26,998 million roubles. For the years 2006-2010, the technical re-equipment will make it possible to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 110,156 million roubles and to reduce the import of fabrics to the Republic by 24,400 thousand running metres;
3. At Orsha Flax Processing Complex Republican Unitary Production and Trade Enterprise: completion of the technical re-equipment of the spinning and weaving facilities, modernization and re-equipment of the finishing facilities with purchasing the equipment to the amount of 86 billion roubles. For the years 2006-2010, the technical re-equipment and modernization of facilities will make it possible to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 42,991 million roubles and to reduce the import of flax fabrics to the Republic by 11,221 thousand running metres;
4. At KIM Open Joint-Stock Company (city of Vitebsk): technical re-equipment and modernization of the knitting, sewing and finishing facilities with purchasing the equipment to the amount of 6,618 million roubles that will make it possible to increase the output of competitive products in the years 2006-2010 to the amount of 141,775 million roubles and to reduce the import of knitwear to the Republic by 6.1 million units and of hosiery – 73.3 million pairs;
5. At Svitanak Joint-Stock Company (town of Zhodino): technical re-equipment and modernization of the knitting, sewing and finishing facilities with purchasing the equipment to the amount of 8,000 million roubles. The technical re-equipment only for the years 2006-2010 will make it possible to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 60,848 million roubles and to reduce the import of knitwear to the Republic by 13.6 million pieces;
6. At Belfa Open Joint-Stock Company (town of Zhlobin): technical re-equipment of the preparatory, knitting and finishing facilities with purchasing the equipment to the amount of 3,435 million roubles. The technical re-equipment only for the years 2006-2010 will make it possible to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 25,055 million roubles and to reduce the import of fur fabric to the Republic by 12,625 thousand square metres;
7. At Polesye Open Joint-Stock Company: technical re-equipment and modernization knitting, sewing and finishing facilities with purchasing the equipment to the amount of 91,671 million roubles. For the years 2006-2010, the technical re-equipment of the enterprise will make it possible to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 400,329 million roubles and to reduce the import of knitwear to the Republic by 5,020 thousand units, of VO PAN yarn by16.6 thousand tons and of half-woollen yarn – by 11.2 thousand tons;
8. At Grodno Leather Production Association Republican Unitary Enterprise: purchase and installation of the equipment for manufacturing the leather goods to the amount of 1,404 million roubles that will make it possible for the years 2006-2010 only to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 424 million roubles and to reduce the import of leather goods to the Republic by 2,800 thousand square decimetres;
9. At Krasny Oktyabr Open Joint-Stock Company: purchase and installation of the high-capacity footwear-production equipment to the amount of 2,680 million roubles that will make it possible for the years 2006-2010 only to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 510,147 million roubles and to reduce the import of footwear to the Republic by 11.7 million pairs;
10. At Belwest Joint Limited Liability Company: purchase and installation of the high-capacity footwear-production equipment to the amount of 2515 million roubles that will make it possible for the years 2006-2010 only to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 56064 million roubles and to reduce the import of footwear to the Republic by 1.1 million pairs.

In addition to the technical re-equipment aimed at the replacement of the old equipment by the new one for the purpose of improvement of the quality and volume of the output products, some organizations of the branch provide for modernization of facilities for the purpose of mastering the new technologies, which were not characteristic for those organizations earlier. The innovative orientation of such a process is conditioned by the organizations’ aspiration for extending the assortment of the output products, occupying new niches in their market and responding adequately to the quickly varying fashion requirements and buyer’s demand. The solution of this problem is the main task of the competitiveness of the light industry products.

While considering the process of carrying out the innovations from the standpoint of mastering the new technologies by means of the technical re-equipment with the use of the imported equipment, the following projects could be noted:

1. At Kovry Bresta Open Joint-Stock Company (Brest Carpets Open Joint-Stock Company), it is planned to perform the technical re-equipment of all the facilities in the years 2006-2010 with purchasing the equipment to the amount of 153,763 million roubles. For the years 2006-2010, the technical re-equipment will make it possible to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 134,295 million roubles and to reduce the import of carpets to the Republic by 8,315 thousand square metres.

The enterprise plans to change partially the line of its activities to the manufacture of velour-type furniture fabrics with fine dobby pattern and jacquard pattern. For this purpose, it is planned to acquire the double-piece weaving looms of the VTR23-175 type with the carriage of the VTR-33-175 type and electronic jacquard machine manufactured by Van de Wiele Company (Belgium) for the total price of 8,100 million roubles. The introduction of this technology will allow the enterprise to expand the assortment of the output products being in demand in the market and to substitute partially the imported goods.

1. At Vitebskiye Kovry Open Joint-Stock Company (Vitebsk Carpets Open Joint-Stock Company), it is planned to perform the technical re-equipment of the finishing and dying facilities and to organize the production of roving threads in the years 2006-2010 with purchasing the equipment to the amount of 15 324 million roubles. For the years 2006-2010, the technical re-equipment will make it possible to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 43,500 million roubles and to reduce the import of carpets to the Republic by 8,250 thousand square metres.

The enterprise plans to introduce the technology of production of machine-sewn carpets with double substrate in 2006. For this purpose, Hansa-Mixer plant (Germany) as a set with the facility for applying the finishing agent will be acquired. The Enterprise plans to obtain the credit to the amount of 171.75 thousand euro. This technology will make it possible to launch the production of new articles, such as machine-sewn carpet strip with secondary substrate and to expand the capabilities of the Enterprise in the market of competitive goods.

Brest Hosiery Production Complex Open Joint-Stock Company plans the technical re-equipment and modernization of the knitting, sewing and finishing facilities in the years 2006-2010 with purchasing the equipment to the amount of 6,958 million roubles. For the years 2006-2010, the technical re-equipment and modernization of facilities will make it possible to increase the output of competitive products by the amount of 119,485 million roubles and to reduce the import of hosiery to the Republic by 22.3 million pairs. The introduction of the new technology for manufacturing polyamide pantyhose with elastane and performing the R&D work by the Enterprise itself will allow it to become a competitor of the well-known Conte Company in 2007, by expanding its assortment with up-to-date products being in demand as well as to increase the output of children’s articles being in increased demand at the cost of knitted 3D patterns consisting of threads of five colours in a single row. For this purpose, the Enterprise will assign 1,274 million roubles at the cost of the credit for purchasing the knitting equipment manufactured by Lanati Company, sewing equipment manufactured by Rosso Company, Cortesio forming machine and Flainex dying machine (Italy).

The plan of technical re-equipment of Lida Footwear Factory Open Joint-Stock Company in 2007 provides for acquiring the Desma-D622 /24-E/LDM injection-moulding machine (Germany) for introducing the new technology of direct moulding of two-layer sole onto the tightened foot of the footwear in the combination of thermoplastic polyurethane + ordinary polyurethane of the new technology as well as Wintech WE200DL injection-moulding machine (Italy) for introducing of the new technology for moulding the soles of ethyl vinylacetate cross-linked polymer. For this purpose, the Enterprise will obtain a credit to the amount of 1,021 thousand euro. The mastering of these technologies in the production will ensure the high resistance of footwear to abrasion, their flexibility, good shock-absorbing properties and reduction of the footwear weight.

The introduction of the quite new technology is planned at Dobrush Porcelain Works Open Joint-Stock Company. It is the energy-saving technology of fast firing of the porcelain articles at the cost of replacement of the three worn-out tunnel kilns by one fast glaze firing kiln (Czechia). The costs for performing this modernization of the production will be 1540 thousand euro. The introduction of this technology will make it possible to reduce the gas consumption by 20 per cent as well as to reduce the technologically-inevitable waste.

Carrying out the technical modernization of the organizations will make it possible to increase considerably the output products in general for the branch and make it competitive in both domestic and external markets.

Within the framework of the energy-saving measures, the Concern plans to install the electrogenerating gas-piston plant with the capacity of 1 MW in the conditions of Slonim Worsted Spinning Factory Open Joint-Stock Company in 2007. The economic effect from introduction of the plant will be 2,400 tons of equivalent fuel or 340 million roubles.

Minsk Leather Production Association Open Joint-Stock Company (town of Gatovo) plans the construction of a heat and power mini plant and cogeneration heat and power plant with the capacity of 0.75 MW in the year 2010. The economic effect from the introduction of the plant will be 1973 tons of equivalent fuel or 260.4 million roubles.

The total amount of financing the creation of new enterprises as well as new facilities at the operating enterprises and modernization of the operating facilities in the years 2007-2010 will be 456,643.5 million roubles, including those from the Republican Budget’s funds – 190,087.3 million roubles, and those from bank credits – 151,241.2 million roubles and from other sources – 115,315 million roubles.