The Industry of Belarus

Industry is the key element in the economic development of any country. Industry is defined as the large-scale production of goods from raw materials. This sector of economy is divided into extractive and manufacturing industries, covering a wide range of branches. The Belarusian industrial sector accounts for nearly 32% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs nearly 1 million people (25% of the Belarusian labour force).

Mechanical engineering and metalworking are the largest and most developed branches of the Belarusian industry. The leading sectors of mechanical engineering are automotive industry, tractor and agricultural engineering and a range of allied high-tech industries like radio- electronics, electrical engineering, instrumentation engineering and optical-mechanical industry.

Belarus specializes in truck manufacturing. The Belarusian Autoworks (BELAZ) is a major world manufacturer of mining dump trucks with payload capacity from 25 to 360 tons, as well as the other heavy vehicles, being used in mining and construction branches. The products of BELAZ are supplied to more than 70 countries of the world.

Minsk Automobile Planthas won recognition of its vehicles not only in Belarus but also far beyond.Fifth-wheel tractors, drop-side trucks, buses, chassis under installation of various special equipment roll off the assembly line under MAZ trademark.Modern design along with high level of performance allows MAZ vehicles to compete with the world producers.

37 enterprises are engaged in tractor and agricultural engineering. The largest of them are Minsk Tractor Works, ‘Gomselmash’, ‘Lidselmash’, Minsk Motor Plant, and Minsk Bearing Plant. At present Minsk Tractor Works ranks among the eight largest exporters of wheeled tractors in the world. The enterprise takes leading positions on the markets of more than 60 countries.

A number of companies like ‘Horizont’, ‘Atlant’, ‘Integral’, Instrument-making plant ‘Izmeritel’ dominate in radio-electronics, producing household appliances, consumer electronics, integrated circuits, semiconductor devices, dashboards for trucks, taximeters and other products.

In optical-mechanical industry ‘BelOMA’ company is particularly successful in the manufacturing of optical and laser products, aerospace and military equipment.

The enterprises of electrical engineering industry produce power transformers and transformer substations, lifts and lifting equipment, incandescent and energy-saving bulbs, and more. The leaders of this branch are Minsk Electrotechnical Plant, ‘Mogilevliftmash’ Works, Brest Electric Lamp Plant and others.

The Belarusian Steel Works (BMZ) in Zhlobin is one of the world’s leaders of iron and steel industry. The plant produces such a complicated and high-tech product as steel cord for global tire makers. About 85 % of its manufacturing output is exported to Russia, Poland, Germany, Sweden, the USA, the UK and other countries. The plant has won many national and international awards for its high quality products.

Chemical and petrochemical industry is formed by 70 enterprises of the Belneftekhim Concern. ‘Belaruskaliy’ is one of the biggest producers of mineral potash fertilizers in the world. There are six mines with the factories to produce potash fertilizers in the industrial area of Soligorsk. The production of ‘Belaruskaliy’ is delivered to Europe, East Asia, South and North America – in total to more than 50 countries. Mozyr Refinery and ‘Naftan’ produce fuel oil, gasoline, diesel fuel and other petrochemicals. ‘Belshina’ is one of the largest enterprises in Europe, making over 200 nominal sizes of tires for cars, trucks, buses, tractors and agricultural machinery. ‘Grodno Azot’ is a major manufacturer of polyamide yarns and fibers in Belarus.

Today’s manufacturers face great challenges. Their production must be competitive, reliable and safe, corresponding to the customers’ requirements. To ensure marketplace success they need to increase efficiency and improve their industrial performance. This can be achieved with the use of innovative technologies and flexible, energy-saving production processes.

SKILLS

Exercise 1.

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