On November 30, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. The designation of 2013 as the Year of Thrift will encourage manufacturers to be more economical in their use of resources. This opinion was expressed to a BELTA correspondent by Rostislav Goshko, General Director of Vitebsk Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant Open Joint-Stock Company. "The Head of State made the right decision, as we have room for improvement, especially in the area of energy and resource conservation," said Rostislav Goshko. As an example, he described the plans aimed at saving energy resources at the Vitebsk Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant. According to him, this year saw the commencement of the boiler house modernization with the replacement of some equipment with less energy-intensive units, which will ultimately result in a twofold saving of energy resources. All lamps in the premises and workshops are being replaced with energy-saving ones, and in the near future, the norms for losses during the processing of raw materials and ingredients will be reviewed. In the first quarter of next year, the enterprise will complete the implementation of a project for the development of vegetable-meat and vegetable-fish canned products, and a new project for production development involves the acquisition of technological equipment for the production of thermostable fillings for the confectionery industry. "A key parameter when selecting equipment manufacturers for each of these projects was low energy consumption," noted Rostislav Goshko. From January to October, the plant produced goods worth approximately Br40 billion. Over 1,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetable baby food were produced (127% compared to the same period last year), and about 2.2 thousand tonnes of general-purpose canned goods (corresponding to the 2011 level). Products worth almost $300,000 were supplied to Russia, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. The material intensity indicator for 10 months was minus 2%, and energy saving was minus 6%. Sales profitability reached 21%. Vitebsk Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant was incorporated in 2008. The product range includes over 100 types of canned goods. Currently, the enterprise's capacity for processing raw materials (meat, vegetables, and fish) per shift is 750 kg. The enterprise also includes the agricultural enterprise "Radunskoye," which serves as the plant's own raw material base. The total number of employees is 400 people. -0-

BELTA