On March 29, Minsk / Olga Belyavskaya - BELTA /. A flax holding is planned to be established in Belarus by 2013. This was announced today to journalists by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Mikhail Rusy, a BELTA correspondent reports. The draft comprehensive business plan for the development of the flax industry in Belarus in 2011-2015 was considered today at a meeting of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers. The Orsha Flax Mill will become the parent organization of the future holding. In addition to it, 29 more enterprises will be included in the holding structure, including 22 flax processing plants, the flax institute, and flax seed stations. "We should establish the holding somewhere around 2013," the minister said. By this time, a supply system for high-quality long flax fiber to the Orsha Flax Mill should be established, from which it is planned to produce higher quality fabrics. According to Mikhail Rusy, the organizations that will be included in the holding will be modernized. Enterprises that will not be part of the holding structure are planned to be restructured and re-specialized so that "people working there do not end up on the street." "There are small factories that are economically inefficient, with 22-24 people working there," the minister said. "We are currently re-equipping them with flax fiber processing lines, meaning they produce sliver, rope, and other types of products." In addition, in the near future, Belarus plans to launch 4 new lines for the production of flaxseed oil. The necessary equipment has already been purchased. According to Mikhail Rusy, the main task facing the flax industry today is the technological re-equipment of its organizations. "This is the most problematic area, so last year, during his visit to Vitebsk, the head of state gave instructions to re-equip the industry," Mikhail Rusy recalled. "We have worked out a business plan, and 18 new lines of foreign production will be launched." The new lines are planned to be used with a three-shift load, which will increase the production volumes of flax products and improve their quality. "It is planned to produce 60 thousand tons of flax fiber per year, and if necessary, we will revise this volume," said the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. "By 2015, we will reach the processing of long and short flax fiber at a level of 50/50." Already next year, farmers plan to obtain 22-24 thousand tons of long flax fiber. This volume will not only cover the needs of the Orsha Flax Mill but also provide an opportunity to export these products. -0-