OREANDA-NEWS. November 29, 2010. More than 400 new facilities were set up in Belarus under the state innovation development program for 2007-2010, First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko said at the parliamentary hearings “Strategies for Belarus’ innovation development and the role of science and education in this process”.

The First Vice-Premier stressed that more than half of these facilities were created from scratch. In general, 1,149 projects are being implemented under the state innovation development program. As a result, 1,022 facilities will be put into operation. Over 100 projects will be continued under the state innovation development program for 2011-2015.

During the period under review, the output of innovation products amounted to Br15 trillion. In 2009 alone, the output of such products totaled more than Br6.6 trillion, up 4 times than in 2007. In the first half of this year, the output made up Br2.7 trillion.

Vladimir Semashko noted significant growth of investment in innovation projects. During the reporting period, more than Br17 trillion of investment was attracted into such projects. In 2007, total funding of innovation projects was Br3.6. In 2009 the funding was already Br7.2 trillion. This growth was achieved largely by attracting foreign investment, bank loans and enterprises' own funds.

The wear rate of the key production assets has decreased. “The wear rate was down from 75% in 2007 to 62.1% in 2009. In 2010, this figure is projected to reach 57.5%,” informed Vladimir Semashko.

Among major projects implemented as part of the innovation development program Vladimir Semashko named the projects of the Industry Ministry. A total of 110 new industrial companies were set up. They included the seamless pipes facility at the Belarusian Steel Works, new integrated circuits at the Integral company, high-performance combine harvesters at Gomselmash and Lidagroprommash, dump trucks at BelAZ. A new production of mashing machines, tractors and television equipment has been launched.

The country has made great progress in the development of its petrochemistry and chemical industry. It has developed potash fertilizers with improved characteristics, new technologies for biofuel production. On the whole, over 290 new products have been developed in petrochemistry, with more than 90 being import-substituting.

Vladimir Semashko also mentioned several successful projects in power engineering. New energy generating units have been set up; new small CHP plants have been constructed. One of them was build in Pruzhany with the use of Finnish technologies.

A total of 75 innovation projects have been implemented in the construction sector (Br2.2 trillion of investment was used). The production of sheet glass has been developed at the Gomelsteklo company. A line to produce up-to-date ceramic materials has been installed in Loyev.

Vladimir Semashko stressed that raising the competitive ability of the national economy through introducing results of scientific research and development will be the most important task of the country in 2011-2015. “It is necessary to turn branches of the economy towards innovations, to encourage them to widely introduce R&D products and modern technologies,” he said. It is necessary to use scientific potential directly in manufacturing and to foster the conversion of enterprises into modern holding companies. Such actions will allow advancing the country to a higher level of economic development, believes the First Vice Premier.

According to the official, an effective innovative climate has been created in Belarus for such changes. “As early as next year things are expected to improve as far as the timely payment of taxes, the acquisition of rights to construction operations and to business on the whole are concerned. The investment climate is expected to become even more favorable next year, too,” said Vladimir Semashko.

The official also quoted data of an annual report of the World Bank. The document says that in the last few years the Belarusian leadership has taken important steps to improve conditions for the arrival of foreign investments in Belarus. Belarus is the regional leader as far as the foundation of foreign enterprises is concerned and is ahead of Austria, the UK, Spain, the USA, and Ireland. Belarus’ investment opportunities in various branches of the economy also rank high. Belarus has been recognized as one of the leading reformers and is one of the three top countries as far as the overall effect of entrepreneurial skills in 2006-2010 is concerned, stressed Vladimir Semashko.