Effective labor in production is the main measure of support and social protection for citizens - A. Kosinets

September 1, Polotsk / Sergei Kotovets - BELTA /. Serious comprehensive measures have been taken in the Vitebsk region to increase targeted social assistance, social support for low-income citizens, pensioners and large families, but high efficiency of the real sector of the economy should become the main measure of support and protection. This was announced today to journalists, answering a question from a BELTA correspondent, by the chairman of the regional executive committee Alexander Kosinets. In Polotsk, he took part in the opening of a new academic building and stadium at secondary school No. 18 named after Euphrosyne of Polotsk. Since the beginning of the year, targeted state social assistance in the region has amounted to over Br4 billion, and it is planned to provide financial support to those in need of purchasing fruits and vegetables in preparation for winter, as well as a number of other measures. At the same time, the head of the region is convinced that discipline in production and high-performance labor should form the basis for supporting and improving the material well-being of the population. "Today, in the Vitebsk region, it has been possible to increase labor productivity by more than 70%, and it is necessary to achieve a twofold increase in this indicator, as well as to double production volumes and, as a result, increase wages by almost half," emphasized Alexander Kosinets. But this can only be achieved through high discipline in production and effective business planning, the production of liquid products to double exports, as well as limiting imports in the range of 25% to 50% and developing import-substituting industries. The region has everything necessary for this, it is only necessary to look at life in a completely different way and use the existing potential, the head of the regional executive committee is confident. For example, over the past 1.5 years, solely by introducing about 200 thousand hectares of unused land into crop rotation, it was possible to obtain a grain harvest of over 1.3 million tons already in 2011. In the current year, the industrial complex of the Vitebsk region has increased production volumes by 80%, while OJSC Naftan alone has increased production by more than 2 times at comparable prices. There are reserves in terms of increasing the efficiency of a number of production complexes, it is necessary to work on eliminating overdue foreign accounts receivable, and to intensify the process of attracting investments. According to experts, solely by increasing labor productivity and fully utilizing production capacities at many enterprises in the Vitebsk region, it is possible to achieve an increase in wages from Br500 thousand to Br1 million. Therefore, the region will pay the closest attention to these issues, noted Alexander Kosinets. -0-