Construction complex of the Republic of Belarus
The construction branch occupies one of the leading places in the economy of the country. This is a multi-profile and multi-functional structure. The strategy of the branch development is determined by the Ministry of Architecture and Construction of the Republic of Belarus. From the time of its establishment in 1994 this state managing body has carried out a big work of elaboration and implementation of the state policy in the field of construction, architecture, urban planning, the industry of construction materials. The Ministry is also engaged in the issues of the investment activity in construction, provision of the technical rates, standardization, licensing, the normative and legal regulation, provision of the state construction supervision.
The branch unites over 4 thousand managing subjects of various forms of ownership, i.e. 109 construction trusts and associations, 200 enterprises of the industry of construction and construction materials, more than 40 design institutes, about 20 research and design and technological institutions.
The number of employees only at the enterprises of the Ministry of Architecture and Construction exceeds 180 000 persons, and totally, about 400 000 persons are working in the construction complex.
Presently, more than a half of the volume of products is executed by the enterprises of the non-state form of ownership.
The construction complex has a developed production base. The plants of the branch produce more than 130 types of construction materials and products, i.e. asbestos cement articles, lightweight steel structures, roofing and wall materials, crushed stone, porous aggregates, finishing ceramics, roofing tiles, polished window glass, linoleum, joiner's products, articles made of glass, crystal, porcelain and many others.
Among the enterprises making the construction products the Belarussian Cement Making Plant, the "Granite" Crushed Stone Production Enterprise the biggest in Europe, the Molodechno Plant of Lightweight Steel Structures, joint stock companies "Keramine”, "Gomelsteklo", "Gomelstroimatenaly" and a number of others are well known in the close and far foreign states. The production of the oldest enterprises of the branch the Borisov Crystal Plant and "Neman" Glass Making Plant is known not only in Belarus but also far abroad. It is well known in Europe and Asia, America and Australia.
In spite of the complicated economic situation caused by the transient character of the national economy, consequences of the economic crises the branch managed to retain the production potential and ensure the dynamic increase of the volume of the residential construction.
The housing both in cities and in villages is one of the priorities of our state. As a result of the decisions made by the President and the Government of the country the regress in the residential construction was overcome in 1996 and the growth was ensured.
The factors of the accelerated construction process are the decrees of the President of the Republic of Belarus A.G. Lukashenko. Some kind of a breakthrough in completion of the under-built houses and creation of new residential construction cooperatives was made owing to the provision of credit lines and subsidies. This made it possible to improve the living conditions of all who needed, to get an essential state support by those who built or bought the housing by using their own funds. Meanwhile, the limited possibilities of the budget caused a necessity of changing the approaches to resolving the problem of financing the residential construction. Today the main sources of the housing are represented mainly by the own means of the citizens and legal entities, first of all, of the enterprises of all forms of ownership, banks and of other investors.
The task was set up for the year 2000 to commission 3, 500, 000 m2 of the dwellings - by almost 19 % more than in 1999. Approximately 1/3 of the planned volume or 1, 050, 000 m2 are to be built in the rural areas.
Civil workers of the republic are closely staring construction of residential houses of a new generation. In Belarus effective structures of multi-storied houses with precast and cast-in situ cages with the flat flooring slabs have been developed for the first time. With the use of the same structures both social houses and expensive apartments by orders will be built. Such houses are notable for the improved consumer features, they may easily be modernized without the essential capital investments.
Construction is in the full swing of not only residential buildings, but of the projects of the social and cultural purpose. With the aim of implementation of the State program of development of physical culture and sports, Sport palaces in Minsk, Vitebsk, Grodno have been commissioned, construction is coming to an end in Gomel, Mogilev, Brest, and in Minsk construction of the national Olympic complex will be started. The civil workers of the republic have mastered the process of construction of structurally complex and unique objects. The skills of the Belarussian builders, their experience and technical means allow them to work with the high quality in any regions and under any climatic conditions.
The output of the industrial products in 2000 shall constitute 102 % as compared with the year 1999, production of consumer goods, including building materials - also 102 %. In the current year we are planning to complete the construction of the first stage of the Cement Making Plant of the Joint Stock Company of the open type “Krasnoselskcement” as per power saving technology, continue construction of the fifth process line in the “Granite” Co. For production of the cube crushed stone in compliance with the European standards, ensure commissioning of the line for packing cement by 20 and 50 kg at the Belarussian Cement making Plant, complete mastering of the designed capacities in joint stock companies “Gomelsteklo” and “Gomelstroimaterialy”.
The Belarussian civil workers and producers of construction materials, architects and designers are ready and open to mutually advantageous business-like cooperation. We really have something to propose to foreign partners. At the same time we are interested in attraction of the advanced foreign experience, technologies and investments, establishment of joint ventures. With this aim the legislative and legal base is being improved.
G. F. Kurochkin,
Minister
of Architecture and Construction
of the Republic of Belarus