OREANDA-NEWS. December 16, 2008. Some Br590 billion was saved in 2008 due to streamlined financing of innovation projects, Vladimir Matiushkov, Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus, said at a session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers chaired by Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky, reported the Official website www.government.by.

According to him, the cost cutting is due to the amendments and addenda that have been introduced to the plan of action to the national innovation development programme for 2007-2010.

In pursuance of the decisions made by the head of state, and after the consultations with the vice-prime ministers in charge, the amendments have been introduced to 157 projects. Ninety-three projects have been amended in terms of financing. The terms of implementation of 123 projects have been revised. Four new projects will be included in the plan of action and 27 will be discounted as ineffective.

Vladimir Matiushkov also informed that the amendments to the plan of action will help save around Br400 billion including more than Br12 billion of the funds allocated from the national budget.

In line with Government’s instructions, state customers and State Science and Technology Committee have analyzed the prospects of the implementation of the projects and the plan of implementation of the state programmes taking into consideration the possible negative impact of the global financial crisis on Belarus’ investment activity, Vladimir Matiushkov highlighted.

He also noted that 113 additional innovation projects have been included in the plan. Some 38 of these projects are very important for the national economy. In line with the plan, in 2008, 294 projects have to be completed. In January-September 2008, 129 production facilities including four most important ones were put into operation. Some 41 production facilities have reached the designed capacity. At the same time, some 22 production facilities have not been launched and four production facilities have not reached the designed capacity.

According to the Government’s resolutions, in 2008, heads of a number of state bodies were brought to disciplinary responsibility for improper execution of the duties regarding the implementation of the projects of the state innovation development programme.

The taken measures have helped to make up for the gaps in terms of implementation of the programmes. As of December 1, 2008, the gap was liquidated in terms of six production facilities. Before the end of the year the gap will be plugged at seven more projects. The date of delivery was amended in terms of six projects; new dates were fixed for three projects. The proposals are still pending coordination with the vice-premiers in charge.

Vladimir Matiushkov believes it is necessary to take up the measures to liquidate the lagging in the implementation of the state programme by the end of 2008. The measures adopted by the state customers instill confidence that four projects which were supposed to be completed in 2007 will be delivered before the end of 2008. At the same time, the Agriculture and Food Ministry fails to complete three projects scheduled for 2007. These are the projects at Baranovichi and Orsha Poultry Farms.

Vladimir Matiushkov attributed the non-performance of the projects to the delay in financing, delivery of equipment and tenders, miscalculations in designing and exploitation of the imported equipment.

Thus, only seven out of 23 most important projects will be implemented by the end of 2008. Ten more projects will be completed in December 2008. The commissioning period has been amended in terms of four projects. Two most important projects will not be delivered in 2008, Vladimir Matiushkov said.