Ten enterprises received the Government Quality Award in 2016, Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov announced at the award ceremony, a BELTA correspondent reports.
Ten enterprises received the Government Quality Award in 2016, Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov announced at the award ceremony, a BELTA correspondent reports.
"The commission for awarding the Government Quality Award has decided to grant the laureate title for 2016 to ten organisations of the republic. Sixteen organisations confirmed their laureate status, one became a diploma winner of the competition, and three received special awards," Andrei Kobyakov noted.
According to him, in total, over 18 years, since 1999, 213 organisations of the republic have become laureates of the award, with many receiving it multiple times. The Dobrush Porcelain Factory, the Gomelproekt Institute, and the Pinsk Meat Processing Plant confirmed their laureate status for the fifth time. Mogotex, Vitex, and Polotsk-Steklotkan were laureates of the competition four times.
Andrei Kobyakov recalled that 2016 was the year of summing up the results of the five-year socio-economic development programme of the country and the start of a new five-year plan. In this regard, it was important for organisations not only to objectively assess their achievements and analyse mistakes (if any), accurately define and develop a strategy for further development, but also to create a foundation for achieving the goals of the new five-year plan. "The current competition laureates have successfully coped with this task. Among them are Mogotex OJSC, Berezastroy-materials, Molodechno Dairy Plant, Novogrudok Gas Equipment Plant," the Prime Minister said. He emphasised that, despite the difficulties in 2015, the enterprises managed to find opportunities for growth in key performance indicators through the rational use of resources and the improvement of the production organisation system.
The Head of Government stated that to enhance the competitiveness and increase the export of goods and services, the government has approved a set of measures for 2016-2020 to stimulate the introduction of advanced methodologies and modern international quality management systems into the republic's economy. "The current winners - Dobrush Porcelain Factory and Belgyps - are already working in this direction. As a result, they export about 80% of their products. Mogotex, Avgust-Bel, Luninets Dairy Plant, and 1st Minsk Poultry Factory have increased their export supplies by two or more times," emphasized Andrey Kobyakov.
For full participation in international trade, the products of Berezastroy materials and Gomel Plant Kommunalnik have undergone verification for compliance with the international requirements of the European Union. To expand market access for products in the European market, the winners of the competition, Babushkina Krynka, Slonim Meat Processing Plant, and Lyakhovichi Dairy Plant, have certified their food safety management systems according to the international certification system FSSC, which establishes a high level of requirements for an environment suitable for food production. Furthermore, Babushkina Krynka and Molodechno Dairy Combine have certified their production facilities for supplying products to China.
"To more actively conquer markets, it is necessary to create high-quality, high-tech, competitive products. For this purpose, the current competition winners are updating equipment and implementing modern technologies. The result is a high level of product quality and its demand in global markets," stated Andrey Kobyakov. Improving the quality of domestic goods also provides an opportunity to substitute imported products with equivalent Belarusian ones in the domestic market. The creation of own production capacities allows for reducing and even completely eliminating dependence on imports. "Borisov Plant of Medical Preparations, Novogrudok Gas Equipment Plant, and Konus enterprise are carrying out targeted work to create import-substituting products," noted the Prime Minister.
Andrey Kobyakov recalled that 2017 has been declared the Year of Science in Belarus. "A corresponding decree was signed by the Head of State to enhance the role of science in fulfilling the tasks of socio-economic development and shaping Belarus's international image as a country with a high level of intellectual and human capital," he said.
The innovative focus of the Republic's development is based on domestic developments created in scientific organizations, including higher education institutions. "Responding to the needs of the times, the current laureates – Belarusian University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, Grodno State Medical University, and A.S. Pushkin Brest State University are actively encouraging students of various specializations towards scientific and research work. This contributes to the formation of modern specialists, designers of innovative products, and developers of advanced technologies," stated the Prime Minister.
Andrei Kobyakov emphasized that enterprises cannot develop without the infusion of modern knowledge, scientific achievements, and technologies. "Unique inventions pave the way for new unique ideas. This is proven by the activities of our laureates, including "Polotsk-Steklotkan", "Vitex", and Brest Meat Processing Plant. They boldly pursue the path of scientific and technological progress, establishing scientific centers and experimental workshops for the implementation of innovative developments into production," he stressed.