Business news

MINSK, 8 January (BelTA) – A light technology cluster based on the holding company Horizont and the LED and Optoelectronic Technologies Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus started working on 1 January 2015, BelTA learned from Igor Kaleda, Director of OAO Brest Electric Lamp Plant, which is part of the holding company Horizont and now part of the light technology cluster.

According to Igor Kaleda, the agreement to establish the light technology cluster has been signed by the participating enterprises, approved by the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and by the Industry Ministry, and has been authorized by the Energy Effectiveness Department. For now the cluster comprises Brest Electric Lamp Plant and the Digital Television Institute, which are part of the holding company Horizont, and the LED and Optoelectronic Technologies Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. “But we are open to other companies, too,” noted Igor Kaleda.

According to the Director of Brest Electrical Lamp Plant, any company can become part of the light industry cluster, including foreign ones. “We will select new participants of the cluster in January-February on a competitive basis. Five Belarusian companies have shown their interest. We are open to anyone, who is interested in the quality development of the light industry market of Belarus,” stressed the executive.

In turn, Yuri Trofimov, Director of the LED and Optoelectronic Technologies Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, remarked that other institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus may join the cluster soon. “We will step up these efforts this year,” he explained.

The light industry cluster has been created to coordinate the efforts of its participants in the area of research and development, assimilation, manufacturing and operation of energy-effective lighting equipment through reliance on state-of-the-art technologies. “We have many tasks to accomplish. At present poor-quality products that may harm human health are sold on the Belarusian market. We will have to work out the norms and standards for this sphere in order to protect consumers. Apart from that, we will work to improve the legal regulation in the area of energy effectiveness,” explained Igor Kaleda.