A unified management system for the agro-industrial complex will be created in the Vitebsk region
A unified management system for the agro-industrial complex will be created in the Vitebsk region. This was announced today by the Chairperson of the Economics Committee of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Anzhelika Nikitina, at a session of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies, when considering the issue of the work of local government and self-government bodies to ensure the sustainable socio-economic development of the subordinate territories.
According to Anzhelika Nikitina, work on the systemic development of the agro-industrial complex of the Vitebsk region is actively continuing. "A decrease in the cost of agricultural production indicates the correct decision to create integration structures. Work in this direction continues. A draft decree on the further development of agricultural organizations in the region has been prepared, which will allow for the creation of a unified management system for the industry, concentrate resources, and practically free organizations from debt burden by 60%," said the representative of the regional executive committee.
Regarding the work of the agro-industrial complex, Anzhelika Nikitina noted the positive contribution of this sector to the formation of the region's gross regional product and the reduction in the number of unprofitable agricultural organizations. Despite difficult weather conditions, the gross agricultural output in the region is maintained at last year's level. Along with this, there are negative aspects that need to be addressed. These include a decrease in exports from food industry enterprises.
"There is an objective reason related to supplies to Russia, but we must replace this gap with other markets. We should also work on expanding the range, cost, and competitiveness of products," said the Chairperson of the Economics Committee of the regional executive committee.
For January-July, 5 out of 6 key performance indicators were met in the Vitebsk region: gross regional product, labor productivity, export of goods and services, employment of citizens in created jobs through new production and enterprises. Growth was ensured in industrial production, retail trade turnover, public catering, and investment activities.
"In terms of industrial production
products, gross agricultural output, energy saving, export of goods and services, foreign trade balance of goods, share of innovative products and stocks of finished goods, gross regional product, number of employed citizens and some other indicators, the region is among the top three leaders in the country," stated Anzhelika Nikitina.The main growth reserve in industry, in her opinion, remains export growth. In the total volume of the region's production, the share of foreign sales does not exceed 47% with a target of at least 65%. This indicator is met by Postavsky, Polotsky districts, Vitebsk and Novopolotsk. A 1.5-fold increase is provided by organizations without departmental subordination, which account for 47% of the export structure.
Enterprises of communal ownership provide only 21% of exports, with a decrease in sales by more than 50% this year. The reasons for this, the chairman of the committee for economy of the regional executive committee cited poor organization of work on the production of competitive products for world markets, poor quality preparation of tender documentation for participation in tenders, and the absence of assembly plants, trading houses and representative offices abroad. "There are very few enterprises involved in import substitution programs. And here too lie our reserves for industrial development," emphasized Anzhelika Nikitina.