Business news

GOMEL, 5 March (BelTA) – The Belarusian producer of construction materials and sanitary wares OAO Keramin intends to increase export to the European Union by 40-50% in 2015, BelTA learned from the company’s Director General Alexander Yanovsky. The executive took part in the opening of a proprietary store in Gomel.

“We started working hard to diversify target markets in 2014. We successfully cooperate with Czechia, Baltic states, Hungary, and Serbia. For instance, export to the Baltic states will be doubled in accordance with the agreements that have been reached,” noted the Director General. Negotiations are now in progress with representatives of companies from Finland, Germany, and France. The companies were the ones to come forward with the initiative to seek cooperation terms.

The increase in export to Western countries will be fueled at the expense of deliveries to Russia, which market is now less attractive due to well-known reasons. But it does not mean the company intends to step down cooperation with the key partner. “We have been working to shape the market for decades. Russia has been getting up to 80% of our export in the last few years. I believe that for the sake of economic security it is necessary to reduce the figure at least by half. The Russian ruble has been devalued. Shipments in January totaled 190% in physical terms and only 84% in money terms in comparison with January 2014,” stated Alexander Yanovsky.

The shopping space in Keramin’s proprietary store that was opened in Gomel on 5 March is 360m2. Its interior design offers as much comfort to shoppers as possible. It is the company’s 24^th proprietary store in Belarus.

OAO Keramin is a major European manufacturer of construction materials and sanitary wares. The company has been in business since the middle of the 20^th century. The company comprises three manufacturing facilities: one factory makes sanitary wares, another factory makes ceramic tiles, and another Minsk-based factory makes building tiles and bricks. All the enterprises use modern equipment and innovative technologies. Every year Keramin offers 15-25 new collections of ceramic tiles and expands the choice of sanitary wares. Keramin products are sold in dozens of countries.