Andrei Kobyakov notes positive trends in the development of the Orsha region
"I would like to note the positive progress in the region's results. The industrial production index for the Orsha district is still below 100%, but it has grown compared to the first quarter, and the growth rate of construction and installation works has increased (88.6% for January-March, 155.5% for January-May). The volume of retail trade turnover has increased to 100.2%," said Andrei Kobyakov.
The number of loss-making organizations has decreased from 28 to 25. The positive foreign trade balance has increased from $10 million to $15 million. The average monthly salary has increased from Br596 in the first quarter to Br611 for the five months of 2017. Moreover, it was fully paid both as of June 1 and July 1. Although as of March 1, there was wage arrears in 5 organizations totaling almost Br630 thousand. A comprehensive plan of priority measures for the development of the Orsha district has been approved and is being implemented. Measures are being taken to establish order in production and utility rooms, on the territory of enterprises, to increase their efficiency and improve working conditions. For example, for the Orsha Tool Plant, accounts have been unblocked, debt on bank loans has been restructured, roof repairs of the production building are underway, and the decision to concentrate tool production in the republic at this plant, as well as thermal treatment of parts at this plant and at the Krasny Borets machine-tool plant (Orsha) in the Orsha district, is being implemented. In addition, the Orsha Tool Plant has received assistance in selling warehouse stocks, an analysis of the tool market has been carried out, and a business plan for the enterprise's development is being developed.
"In addition, the results of the tool plant's work will be influenced by decisions envisaged not only for it but also for other problematic enterprises. In particular, a draft decree of the head of state has been prepared, which will allow the Orsha District Council
deputies to cancel, from June 1 of the current year, the increased coefficients for land and real estate taxes for four problematic enterprises of the Ministry of Industry. "Its refinement will be completed in the near future," added Andrei Kobyakov.In addition, the Orsha District Executive Committee plans to take over residential buildings and dormitories of problematic enterprises of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Architecture and Construction into communal ownership. According to the Prime Minister, strategies for the medium- and long-term development of all problematic enterprises are being developed, which should be formalized in the form of business plans. Simultaneously, a medium-term regional development program until 2020 and a set of measures for its implementation are being prepared.
"Work is underway. However, this is not enough. Some decisions have not been implemented, deadlines have been missed for some," Andrei Kobyakov noted. "For example, at the Presidium in Orsha, it was decided that each management body would detail its tasks in sectoral plans and include in them the measures of the comprehensive plan for priority actions. The government has been given the corresponding instructions, but such detailed sectoral plans have not yet been approved - even by the management bodies that oversee the problematic enterprises: the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Architecture and Construction, and the State Military Industrial Committee. In addition, the most interested parties - the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee and the Orsha District Executive Committee - have not approved them." For example, the comprehensive plan provides for the creation of a joint venture with a Czech company at the Orsha "Legmash" plant for the production of seamless gas cylinders. "If all steps are not clearly outlined and responsibility is not assigned, the enterprise will not exist by the end of the year," emphasized the head of the Belarusian government. Examples of unsystematic work already exist, he stated. As a result, "Legmash," Orsha Instrument Plant, Automatic Control Devices Plant, construction trust №18, and "Orsha Building Materials" continue to incur losses. Overdue debt for energy resources has increased at the Instrument Plant, "Legmash," and "Orsha Building Materials." There are issues with the organization of work at other facilities. Thus, a fundamental decision onfinancing from the state investment program of half of the construction and installation works for Semashko Hospital in Orsha was adopted at the beginning of last month. However, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee has not yet submitted proposals to the Head of State on the issue of including the facility in the state investment program and on the procedure for financing before its inclusion in the program. At the meeting of the Presidium, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee will report on how it is planned to complete the construction of this facility in 2017.
Almost all problematic issues concerning the development of the Orsha region have been submitted to the meeting of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers. "The task of the meeting is to determine where the republican bodies, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee and the Orsha District Executive Committee, and enterprises are not working effectively, and what additional measures are needed from the Head of State and the government," - summarized Andrei Kobyakov.