MINSK, 24 August (BelTA) – The Belarusian state light industry concern Bellegprom hails the positive dynamics in the performance of its leather and footwear industry, BelTA has learned.
The Bellegprom management and leather and footwear enterprises held a video conference to discuss the results of the first half of the year, and also tasks for the next six months.
Bellegprom head Tatyana Lugina stated that the industry was most affected by the pandemic. As a result of the closure of retail facilities and a fall in consumer demand, the turnover fell by more than 20%. The export contracted by almost a third. In H1 2020 the Industrial Production Index (IPI) made up 78.3%, profitability of sales - 5.5%. “Starting since July, the market has started its recovery. We can already see positive changes in August. All enterprises are operating in the normal mode. We expect the IPI to reach 88% in August and that the positive dynamics will remain,” she said.
The Bellegprom chairperson stressed that the industry's enterprises face a number of serious tasks. Firstly, these are the measures to reduce prices for raw materials and reduce internal costs, which will contribute to competitive and affordable prices for finished products - footwear and haberdashery. Secondly, it is active development of model footwear and new products in close cooperation with domestic leather enterprises. Thirdly, it is the search for new markets, including the European Union, China and other countries.
The Belarusian state light industry concern Bellegprom comprises 96 organizations, including 76 industrial companies (textile, sewing, knitting and leather-footwear industries). They account for 60% of the country's total light industry output and 21% of Belarus' total non-food production.
