VITEBSK, 30 April (BelTA) – The Vitebsk Winery is looking for an investor to set up a joint venture for tea prepackaging, BelTA learnt from director of the company Vyacheslav Sapronov. A new manufacture will be organized at the Rudakovo company. According to the preliminary data, nearly $500,000 of investments is needed to implement the project. The resources will be used to acquire necessary equipment, provide new jobs. The Vitebsk Winery launched tea production in 2009 as part of the state import-substitution programme. For these purposes the company set up separate workshop, purchased domestic and foreign equipment. The total amount of investments made up nearly Br400 million of the company’s own funds. High quality tea stock is imported from Sri Lanka. So far there have been developed ten sorts of tea. Ceylon, Indian and tea will oregano, mint, blackcurrant, dried apples flavor are among them. The products are produced under the Dobry Kum trademark. In Q1 2010 the company produced 4.6 tonnes of tea worth Br112 million. The output grew three times from last year. “According to the marketing experts, the tea consumption at the Belarusian market makes up 8,000-10,000 tonnes. Belarusian companies produce a small amount of tea, with the majority of this product being imported,” Vyacheslav Sapronov said. On the whole in January-March the company produced Br4.2 billion worth of products, 12% up as compared to the same months of 2009. The profitability of sales totaled 14.4%, including 10% for tea. Founded in the early 1930s, the Vitebsk Winery specializes in the production of wines and tea. The production of tea accounts for almost 6% of the company’s total output.

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