Belstekloprom - Launch Of Beer Bottle Plant

Russian-owned Belstekloprom, registered in the Gomel-Raton free economic zone (FEZ) in southeast Belarus, intends to launch production of EU standard glass bottles, an official announced in November/03. The plant will have three lines with an annual capacity of 186.4M 0.1-1 litre brown glass bottles. As Belarusian demand is estimated at 70M bottles, Belstekloprom will export most of its output. The first stage of production is scheduled to start in spring 2004, while the second stage will enter operation by the end of 2004. Since the FEZ Gomel-Raton was established in 1998 for a 50-year term, 48 companies have registered. The main investors are from Russia, Germany, Poland and the US.