More than 100 investment projects will be presented at the autumn business forum in Vitebsk

VITEBSK INVEST FORUM: CONTRACTS TO BE COUNTED IN THE FALL Vitebsk region is a developed industrial region. It is enough to mention that about half of the republic's electricity and petroleum products are produced by enterprises of Vitebsk region. The region produces over 60% of televisions and metal-cutting machine tools, 97% of carpets and carpet products. Every third pair of Belarusian shoes is made in Vitebsk. In 2008, Br3.8 trillion of investments were directed to the development of the economy and social sphere of Vitebsk region, and for 8 months of the current year, the investment growth rate exceeded last year's figure for the same period by 17.3%. Almost two-thirds of capital investments are for production purposes. At the same time, the region ranks only fourth in the republic in terms of foreign investment share. Investment forums, which have become regularly held in the region, help to attract foreign and domestic businessmen. Oleg Matskevich, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, told a BELTA correspondent about what will be presented at the upcoming autumn business forum and what local authorities expect from it. - The next investment forum will be held in the region on October 15-16. What are the most relevant projects for the region that will be presented there? - The most important projects for Vitebsk region today are increasing the level of processing of local raw materials, producing products in demand on both foreign and domestic markets based on them, and effectively using the potential due to the region's geographical location. Natural resources allow for the active development of the construction industry, woodworking, and bottling of mineral and drinking waters. Up to 1.8 million cubic meters of wood are harvested annually in the forests. The region has over 3,000 peat deposits, which contain 29% of the country's total peat reserves. Its geological reserves are estimated at 1.25 billion tons. Dolomite deposits suitable for the production of mineral fertilizers amount to 766 million tons. 200 deposits of clays suitable for ceramic production and the production of expanded clay aggregate have been identified in the region. Total industrial clay reserves are estimated at 70 million cubic meters, with an annual extraction of up to 1 million cubic meters. In addition, the region has its own sources of mineral waters and over 1.4 thousand sapropel-productive lakes. More than a hundred projects will be presented at the forum, several dozen of them are related to the use of local resources. I am sure that OAO "Vitebskdrev" proposals for organizing new production of laminated boards and creating furniture production may be of interest to investors. The regional forestry production association is interested in developing the production of fuel pellets from woodworking waste. Obol ceramic plant invites investors for the production of porous brick, a modern environmentally friendly and energy-saving building material. The advantages of the region's geographical location are not yet fully utilized. Major transport arteries connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg with Riga, Vilnius, Warsaw, and Kyiv run through Vitebsk region. The region is included in two European transport corridors: Berlin-Moscow and Helsinki-Plovdiv. The creation of large logistics centers has been worked out in two projects: based on the Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant and Vitebsk Airport. In addition, the districts offer a number of initiatives related to the development of roadside services. In the competitive struggle for consumers, price and quality play a significant role. That is why the modernization and replacement of technological equipment, the introduction of new technologies at each stage of the production process are relevant for local manufacturers. The region's scientific personnel are ready to offer their ideas for mechanical engineering, light industry, and agriculture. Developments from Polotsk State University, Vitebsk Technological University, and the Veterinary Academy will also be presented at the forum. Attention will be paid to projects in the field of tourism and mass recreation. Local authorities invite partners for the construction and reconstruction of hotels, recreation centers, sports and entertainment centers. In addition, the regional executive committee has proposed that local self-government bodies and public organizations present projects at the investment forum for participation in the new EU program "Lithuania-Latvia-Belarus," which starts on October 8. Our partners from Utena County (Lithuania) and the Council of Municipalities of Latgale (Latvia) are invited to participate in the discussion of these projects at the investment forum. - The development of small towns and the program for the revival of the village remain in the focus of the authorities. What projects are planned to be implemented in district centers and in the agricultural sector? - Projects for processing rapeseed, short flax fiber, and producing biofuels from slaughterhouse waste, straw, and flax shives are quite interesting. It should be noted that projects that can be financed by external, foreign sources, rather than by budget funds, will be presented at the investment forum. At the same time, developers will introduce potential investors to all forms of state support provided for the implementation of projects in small towns and rural areas. - Continuing the topic of state preferences for business. How actively do investors use the opportunities provided by the legislation? In early November, Decree No. 10 "On Creating Additional Conditions for Investment Activities in the Republic of Belarus" comes into force. How do you think it will affect business activity? - The current legislation in Belarus provides a number of advantages for residents of free economic zones, for investors in small towns and rural areas. Businessmen get the opportunity to be exempted from customs duties when importing technological equipment, they are provided with deferred payment of import VAT and the possibility of paying a single tax when carrying out certain types of production activities. These preferences are the same for both domestic and foreign investors; they are not differentiated depending on the amount of attracted capital. When applying for state benefits, businessmen, in turn, must undertake obligations to create production facilities and additional jobs, ensure an increase in output and its guaranteed sales, implement import substitution projects, and ensure stable wage payments. The investor's obligations are not too many; they are socially oriented and do not harm their financial interests. However, as practice has shown, the main problem for an investor is to fulfill their obligations. Moreover, the conditions for granting state support were previously stipulated by separate decrees. Decree No. 10, which comes into force on November 6, is a comprehensive document and resolves a number of issues in favor of investors. Many investors have "frozen" in anticipation of it. This document will undoubtedly stimulate business activity, and it is possible that the proposals of Vitebsk enterprises presented at the autumn forum will be realized more quickly thanks to it. - The main hero of this year's business forum can be called flax. For the first time, an exhibition of products made from Belarusian flax will be presented to investors. What is this project and what is its main task? - Vitebsk region is more interested in the effective operation of the flax industry than other regions. The region has the largest number of flax mills compared to other regions, and the only flax mill in the republic operates in Orsha. Many farms in the region are linked in a single production chain with mills and the combine, and their effective operation depends on each other. Modern technologies allow for the production of a wide variety of products from flax: yarn, long and short fiber, seeds and shives, various fabrics - from fine linen to coarse canvas. Even production waste can become fuel briquettes or fertilizer. At the business forum, we will present these types of products, show existing and promising developments in order to attract consumers' attention to Belarusian flax and investors' attention to new projects. - The autumn forum is the third one this year. Skeptics say that there is no need to hold business meetings so often. What are such forums for, and what are the concrete results of their holding? - Indeed, two investment forums have already taken place: one in March and the second in July. Contracts totaling about $350 million were concluded at them. Although these are not very significant amounts, we are realists and understand that we should not expect large contracts after one meeting. Businessmen need to get acquainted, look around, and ultimately calculate the benefits of a particular offer. I will not hide that by holding such meetings, we also solve other problems. Firstly, the selection of investment projects for presentation at the forum is a kind of audit of the investment activities of each region and enterprise. Specialists of various levels are involved in the preparation of investment projects, which contributes to improving their professionalism. It is no secret that quite recently, project development was carried out formally, and information about the opportunities and prospects for enterprise development was formed unsystematically. The focus was on one development direction, without considering market requirements. For the Vitebsk regions and enterprises, the most important thing today is to learn to advertise themselves, to show investors their advantages over others. An investment project is a product that must be learned to sell. And most importantly: an investment project must include economic calculations, justification of certain investments, and payback periods. The composition of forum visitors is constantly changing, and along with those who can invest funds in certain projects, we invite entrepreneurs so that they can evaluate the products manufactured by Vitebsk producers. Thus, the forum also serves as an exhibition platform. Enterprises specifically form product expositions for it, present commercial offers here, and familiarize visitors with the terms of implementation. - Where can one get acquainted with the investment proposals of Vitebsk enterprises and how to get to the business forum? - The business forum will be held on October 15-16. The exhibition venue will be the "Vitebsk" concert hall. The forum program is posted on the official website of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, where you can also find a list of links to the websites of the region's enterprises and learn more about their products. Diana KURILO, BELTA.-0-