On December 15, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Private and municipal enterprises of the Vitebsk region in January-October 2011 more than doubled the target for ensuring a positive foreign trade balance, reaching $276.6 million, the Economics Committee of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. In January-October, exports of goods at current prices (excluding republican organizations, oil and oil products) amounted to $917.8 million, which is 82% higher than in the same period of 2010. Imports of products amounted to $641 million, with a growth rate of 126.6%. The increase in export supplies was driven not only by traditional product groups for the region (food products, light industry and machine-building products) but also by new types developed by the region's enterprises this year. Power cables, modular water treatment stations, special-purpose vehicles, and transformers began to be sold on foreign markets for the first time. Sales of agricultural machinery, door leaves, PVC products, footwear, and building materials have intensified. The diversification of foreign supplies continues. Exports to CIS countries, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and America have increased 1.3 to 1.5 times over the year. The number of exporters has increased by 102 organizations, while the number of net importers has decreased by 14. Imports of yogurts, beverages, footwear, and clothing items have been halved. Production of 27 types of import-substituting products, assigned to regional executive committees, has been mastered. According to the results of 2011, the positive balance of foreign trade in goods, excluding republican organizations, oil and oil products, is projected at $390 million, including $220 million for legal entities not under departmental subordination. By the end of the year, municipal enterprises plan to produce products worth $42 million under 16 import-substituting projects. -0-

BELTA