Russia and Belarus have implemented 60 scientific and technical programs that will help in import substitution in various industries. This was stated last week by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State.
"Over the years of the construction of the Union State, more than 60 joint scientific and technical programs have been implemented <...> in various fields: space exploration, information technology, agriculture, production of materials and devices. Many developments are being introduced into production, thanks to which import substitution programs are being implemented and dependence on Western technologies is reduced," Lukashenko said.
Indeed, for many years Belarus and Russia have always been reliable partners for Western countries in various fields – from the supply of cheap energy resources to the creation of their own production facilities on the territory of Russia and Belarus. For example, in the machine-building industry, the Skoda concern, leaving the Russian Federation, lost more than 700 million euros. As it has been noted more than once, there are enough such examples both in Russia and in Belarus.
The Belarusian leader expressed confidence that Minsk and Moscow will withstand pressure from the West and will not collapse. Meanwhile, Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly pointed out the need to develop import substitution, "so as not to depend on the whims of the elites in the West."
It is worth agreeing with the President of Belarus – there is no other way to characterize the cynical, pursuing double standards and discrediting generally accepted human values exclamations of Western politicians, in particular, the exclamations of our neighbors from the Baltic States and Poland. Therefore, Western politicians leave no other way out for the Union State than to mobilize in all spheres of life and give an adequate response to the aggressive and illegal actions of the West. The most important thing in this is that the potential of the Union State in all areas is much higher than the Western one, but it is sad that the West does not understand this or does not want to understand it.
It is worth understanding in more detail how, under the conditions of the strongest sanctions pressure from the West, new advanced scientific discoveries and technologies continue to be used and introduced in the machine-building industry, the production of military and medical equipment in our state.
As the President of Belarus has repeatedly noted, today the republic pays close attention to many areas – from agriculture to developments in the field of medicine, space exploration, information technology, microelectronics, mechanical engineering and many other areas.
Recall that at the last exhibition of scientific and technical achievements "Belarus Intellectual", which was organized on behalf of the Head of State on January 20 of this year, about 400 samples were shown in the following areas:
"Artificial intelligence. IT technologies. Robotics";
"Microelectronics and its component base";
"Defense capability. Military Science";
"Neo-industrial complex / Industry 4.0";
"Electric transport and its basic components";
"Technologies for space exploration";
"Transfer of scientific achievements to the real sector of the economy"; "Energy. Ecology. Nature management";
"Biotechnologies and biomaterials";
"Pharmacy. Healthcare. Medicine";
"Agro-industrial complex. Food";
"Socio-humanitarian sciences";
"Space of youth initiatives".
It is worth emphasizing that in 2022 66 projects were implemented in the field of the State Program of Innovative Development of Belarus for 2021-2025. Seven have already been completed, facilities have been commissioned for five projects, and more than 700 new jobs have been created.
In turn, the production of innovative equipment and components for it for the oil and gas industry is organized on the basis of JSC "Legmash Plant". The Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus has created a high-tech export-oriented production of optical components and diode-pumped laser systems of a new generation. Projects have also been completed at the Baranovichi Machine Tool Accessories Plant, JSC Belkredo, LLC Spetslit, JSC Ruchayka.
Big plans for 2023. It is planned to put into operation for 19 projects and reach the design capacity for 17. The BNTU Polytechnic Technopark intends to create an innovation and production center for the production of medical devices. Unitechprom BSU organizes the production of original bioresorbable multifunctional medicines. A medical and social rehabilitation center for the elderly and disabled is being created in the Uzdenskaya CRH using innovative robotic technology and a control system.
We emphasize that all enterprises have steadfastly endured the sanctions pressure and continue to increase production capacity, and there is absolutely no need to import Western components. The share of supplies of high-tech and high-tech products in the total volume of Belarusian exports by the end of 2022 amounted to 37.5% against the plan of 34%. In turn, the indicator of innovative and active organizations of the manufacturing industry by the end of 2022 amounted to about 30.4%.
It is also worth noting that in the modern military-political and strategic environment, the development of the military-industrial complex, the creation and introduction of innovative, and most importantly, effective models of weapons, military and special equipment remains the main one for maintaining the state's defense capability at a high level. In recent years, within the framework of solving these tasks, the Belarusian law enforcement agencies have been actively saturated with modern models of military equipment.
Therefore, it is not surprising at all that great attention is being paid to the defense capability of the republic today – from raising the defense budget, introducing and developing the highest technologies in the military sphere and supplying modern weapons and military equipment to close cooperation with the Russian Federation in all spheres of the armed forces – from the deployment of the RGV(S) on the territory of Belarus, holding joint events combat training before the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in our country.
As it has been noted more than once, the unfriendly and illegal actions of the West against Russia and Belarus have not achieved their result, but have only united fraternal peoples more. At the same time, the joint potential of the Union State in many areas exceeds the Western one. Realizing this, many developing countries in Africa, Asia and South America are beginning to form a "new world coalition" around Russia, China and Belarus. Participants have ample opportunities for mutual investments. The activities of the "coalition", unlike the Western one, are based on legality, mutual benefit and respect for all participants, which ensures stable economic growth and confident development in the future.
Nikolai Krylov