In the Bellegprom concern, the leather shoe industry accounts for 41% of production. The range of products offered by Belarusian companies is quite wide. It includes both high-quality shoes made from expensive natural materials, as well as durable everyday shoes, including for children and pensioners.
There are currently more than 25 shoe companies in the republic. They are located in Minsk, Gomel, Mogilev, Grodno, Brest, Vitebsk, Bobruisk, Molodechno, Baranovichi, Lida, Beloyarsk.
Vitebsk is a big centre of light industry of the Republic of Belarus. There are a lot of enterprises here which produce carpets, clothing, hosiery, footwear and many other things. Among these enterprises the shoe factories “Belwest” and “Marko” take by right the leading position. “Belwest” was one of the first joint ventures on the territory of the former USSR. It was founded in 1988 on the base ofthe shoe factory “Krasny Oktiabr” with the participation of the German company “Salamander”. Since the end of 2002 “Belwest” is a joint Byelorussian-Russian company. It produces men’s, women’s and children’s footwear of cement and melting attaching. Within the period of its existence the enterprise has found the ability to react on all market situations in the shortest time and to satisfy quickly the needs of not only mass customers but high requirements of experienced buyers. The high quality of production is ensured by up-to-date German and native equipment, advanced manufacturing technology and experienced personnel.
Set up in 1991 the shoe factory “Marco” is a modern hi-tech manufacture which produces high quality men’s, women’, and children’s shoes and boots with the upper from natural leather using cement and melting attaching. This footwear combines high comfort, high wear-resistance and external attractiveness. About 20 million pairs made by the factory clearly show the success of footwear with trade mark “Marko” at the market of Belarus, of CIS’ countries and of some European countries.
This success is due to tremendous work done by high skilled specialists of the company. They carried out a great deal of research work in all directions which allowed to set up the greatest and efficiently working shoe factory in the Republic of Belarus. In order to ensure an increasing demand on its production the factory is constantly modernizing the manufacture. The technological process is carried out on the latest equipment produced by such firms as “DESMA”, “FAFF”, “USM”, and others which ensures the European level of quality..