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19 Sep 2014

Lukashenko orders Belarusian flax restored to former glory

Lukashenko orders Belarusian flax restored to former glory

ORSHA, 19 September (BelTA) – Belarusian flax has to be restored to its former glory. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement on 19 September as he visited a flax industry enterprise in Orsha District, Vitebsk Oblast, BelTA has learned.

“We know how to work flax, make fabrics out of flax. We cannot lose this legacy. We have no right to do so,” stressed the head of state.

Alexander Lukashenko reminded that proposals to shut down flax industry enterprises had been voiced before. “But we decided in favor of the flax industry. And now the industry has to achieve the highest levels,” said the President.

Alexander Lukashenko visited OAO Orekhovsk Flax Mill and was made familiar with the ongoing reconstruction and modernization campaigns. The President was interested in learning about conditions for storing raw materials, the processes used to make flax fiber using modern equipment. The head of state was informed that there are plans to reduce the number of Belarusian flax mills from 36 to 25 by 2015. Of the total as many as 10-12 flax mills will be fitted with state-of-the-art equipment. Alexander Lukashenko praised the operation of the company. “It is a new enterprise and a decent one at that,” said the President. “Yes, we have imported these machines because we have never made them. These are the world’s best machines. But now we are not going to buy more of them. You have to make all the parts and the rest in order to make another line like that. Instead of screwdriver assembly I want high localization of the manufacturing process”.

The President also visited Orsha Linen Mill where reconstruction, retooling, and ways to improve the enterprise’s performance were discussed. Alexander Lukashenko instructed the State Control Committee to verify whether everything had been done to improve working conditions for employees of the enterprise. The President said the factory still seemed to be too noisy and too dusty. “If you have failed to enable world-level working conditions here, someone will have to answer for it,” warned the head of state. “Since you went for modernization, the enterprise has to be state of the art,” he added.

Speaking about the continued modernization of the enterprise, Alexander Lukashenko noted it was too expensive. “The price varies from $70 million to $100 million. We have yet to find the money but remember that you will be the ones to repay the bulk of the debt,” the head of state told workers of the enterprise. “It is true that the merchandise is totally different now. If what your director says is true and your merchandise sells even above the international market price, then the investment may be worth it, we’ll see”. “After investing $70 million I would like to get $200 million down the road just like any other investor does. If the output is available within an acceptable time period, we will make the relevant decisions,” added the head of state.

Alexander Lukashenko did not rule out the possibility that the country may have to sow more flax and step up flax production if there is stronger demand for flax in the future.

The President also talked to workers of the enterprises. Alexander Lukashenko noted he had come to Orsha District in order to examine the entire flax-manufacturing chain from retted straw processing to the manufacturing of end products.

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