On January 5, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. More than fifty municipal and private enterprises of the Vitebsk region intend to implement import substitution projects in 2013, the Economics Committee of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. The volume of production of import-substituting goods is planned at the level of $170 million, which is 15.2% higher than in 2012. Within the framework of 39 import substitution projects, according to preliminary data, products worth $150 million were produced last year. As noted in the committee, the production of goods previously imported into Belarus allows not only to reduce imports but also to increase exports, which has a positive impact on the foreign trade balance. According to preliminary data, the positive foreign trade balance in 2012, excluding oil and oil products and republican organizations in the Vitebsk region, exceeded $1.5 billion. High-tech products worth over $63 million were exported, which is almost 10% higher than in 2011. Polotsk-Steкловолокно OJSC supplied lightweight roofing glass fabrics RATL-100, 110, 180 to the foreign market for the first time, Belsplat enterprise supplied metal fire doors, Borovukha Window Structures Plant exported wooden double-glazed windows, and EkoDrevMebel factory supplied furniture made of natural wood. New products from Vitebsk manufacturers also included metal halide lamps, spotlights and narrow-beam lamps, and elements of prefabricated monolithic floor slabs made of lightweight materials. Enterprises of the region continue to work on diversifying foreign supplies. The region maintains relations with 110 states. Exports to CIS countries increased by 16.3% in 2012, to EurAsEC by 14.4%, and to the European Union by 3 times. The number of exporting enterprises exceeded 700 organizations, and the number of net importers decreased by 17 enterprises due to increased sales of cable products, power units, fittings, PVC skirting boards, and veterinary drugs. Purchases of juices and non-alcoholic beverages were reduced by half, beer by a quarter, and synthetic detergents by 4.7%.