The Belarusian food industry concern Belgospishcheprom plans to implement 9 import-substitution projects in 2023, Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Leonid Zayats told the media ahead of the third meeting of the Belgospischeprom workers and an official meeting to mark the Day of Agricultural and Processing Industry Workers in Gomel on 17 November, BelTA has learned.
According to Leonid Zayats, the country, including food industry, is busy with import substitution. “Imported goods are perfectly substituted by our domestic ones. We set a task to replace imported goods with our domestic products in the future,” he said.
“Next year our enterprises will install equipment as part of 9 projects to produce import-substituting products. We will receive both certain dividends and foreign currency earnings. This will serve as a foundation to increase workers' salaries,” the deputy prime minister said.
According to him, import-substituting projects are being implemented in the confectionery industry, for example, at Spartak factory, in alcohol and other industries.
"All companies are set to move forward. We need to create good competition to imported products," Leonid Zayats emphasized.
He added that 60% of the output by Belarusian food enterprises (42 of them affiliated with Belgospishcheprom) find their buyers in Belarus. 40% is exported to 45 countries. “We receive very good foreign exchange earnings. In January-September, growth was 107%. The figure increases every month. The food industry will finish the year on a very good note," the deputy prime minister said.
Speaking about the tasks for the future, he noted: "Every company needs to tap into its reserves. We need to step up productivity, quality, expand the product lineups manufacture goods that will popular with customers."