Belarus has enormous potential for the development of all sectors of the economy - A. Kosinets

November 22, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Belarus has huge potential for the development of all sectors of the economy. This opinion was expressed today to journalists by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, commenting on the draft Program for the Socio-Economic Development of Belarus for 2011-2015. According to him, the upcoming program will be challenging. Over five years, the country's GDP is to increase by 1.62-1.68 times, while the Vitebsk region sets ambitious goals for itself: to double the regional GDP. "To achieve this, it is necessary to rapidly modernize industry, strengthen design bureaus, and create conditions for the construction of new production facilities," emphasized Alexander Kosinets. Thus, in the next five-year period, it is planned to build plants in the region for the production of LED equipment, extraction of mineral and fresh water, deep processing of wood, and an automobile plant. "Naftan" will be almost completely modernized, increasing the depth of oil refining to 93%. The development of the region's meat and dairy industry will receive a new impetus. Funds for the technical re-equipment and modernization of these enterprises for 2011-2015 will amount to about Br500 billion, and they will be invested in 2011-2012. For comparison, the head of the region cited the volume of investments directed at the modernization of meat and dairy enterprises in previous years. Thus, from 2000 to 2008, they amounted to about Br200 billion, and in 2009-2010 - Br375 billion. "All these measures are aimed at producing export-oriented products that will be in demand at the megaproject level," noted the governor. The agrarian sector and construction are important areas. For the development of agriculture, the regional program "Vitagro" for 2011-2015 has already been adopted, which sets the task of doubling gross output in order to ensure food security of the region and increase the share of product sales in domestic and foreign markets to 50%. In construction, it is planned to reach an annual commissioning of housing of about 800 thousand square meters. "This will make it possible to solve the problem of queues. Although even today it is no longer acute," noted Alexander Kosinets. The sphere of culture, education, science, and healthcare will receive further development. In 2011-2012, it is planned to complete the reconstruction, overhaul, and commissioning of a number of facilities. For example, in the Bilevo-1 microdistrict of the regional center, a polyclinic with a capacity of 1,000 visits per day will open next year, the reconstruction of the oncology dispensary will be completed, and a women's consultation polyclinic will be built. The Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee also emphasized that all facilities in the region are commissioned ahead of schedule, from 2.5 to 10 years. For example, the Holy Resurrection Church in Vitebsk, opened in 2009, was planned to be commissioned only by 2015. The reconstruction of this year's facilities (Assumption Cathedral and railway station) was planned for 2020 and 2013, respectively. "You see the pace of this work, and it will not slow down," emphasized the governor. "All sections of the draft Program for the Socio-Economic Development of Belarus for 2011-2015 have a social orientation, are aimed at improving people's quality of life, and set the goal of making our economy competitive in the global market," stated Alexander Kosinets, adding that the results of the work done show that the chosen path is correct. -0-