More than 18,000 jobs have been created in small towns of the Vitebsk region over the past three years

December 1, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. More than 18,000 jobs have been created in small towns of the Vitebsk region during the implementation of the State Comprehensive Program for the Development of Regions, Small and Medium-Sized Settlements. This was announced today at a press conference by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, a BELTA correspondent reports. The unemployment rate decreased from 1.7% (as of January 1, 2007) to 0.9% (as of October 1, 2010). In 2010, the production of industrial goods and consumer goods increased 1.6 times, and the number of small enterprises increased 4.3 times. One of the main directions for the development of small and medium-sized towns in the Vitebsk region is to stimulate the creation of new enterprises, including on unused state property, and to locate new production facilities at existing ones. The region is not focusing on giant enterprises, but is directing its efforts towards the effective operation of the processing industry, whose enterprises produce goods with high daily demand from the population and are oriented towards local raw materials. For example, in Dubrovno, Anteney Prime LLC has created a sewing production facility on unused property acquired through auction, Lepelsky Textile LLC has opened a textile production facility, and SAV-stroy LLC in Shumilino produces building blocks on leased premises. Along with the expansion of production capacities, great attention is paid to the development of the social sphere in small urban settlements. Reconstruction of educational, healthcare, cultural, physical culture, sports, and tourism facilities is being carried out, which will make living there attractive, provide people with socially significant services and comfortable leisure, the governor is confident. For example, a sports and recreation complex has been commissioned in Miory, the repair of the stadium in Braslav is ongoing, and two phases of the stadium in Glubokoye have been commissioned. Reconstruction of a secondary school with an extension is underway in Orekhovsk, an extension to School No. 1 in Novolukoml has been commissioned, and modernization of Secondary School No. 1 in Glubokoye is being carried out. "In the Vitebsk region, the state significance of the revival and development of small and medium-sized urban settlements is well understood. The work of government bodies, industrial enterprises, organizations and institutions of education, healthcare, transport, trade, and consumer services is aimed at improving the standard and quality of life of the population. The main thing is that people stay to live and work in their homeland, multiplying the material and spiritual potential of the Vitebsk land and Belarus with their labor," Alexander Kosinets emphasized. In the next five-year period, it is planned to create 1,000 new production facilities in the region, with 640 of them in small towns. Priority development will be given to 40 small and medium-sized settlements. -0-