The Year of Entrepreneurship in the Vitebsk region will be the year of supporting business initiative

February 7, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The Year of Entrepreneurship should become a year of supporting business initiative in the Vitebsk region. This point of view was expressed to a BELTA correspondent by Oleg Matskevich, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. In 2011, the region is expected to achieve an industrial production growth rate of 120% compared to 2010, the share of innovative products in the total volume should be at least 20%, and the industrial sales profitability should be at least 15%. Economic realities demand extraordinary business approaches from all participants in the business process, regardless of whether it is a state-owned or private enterprise, Oleg Matskevich is convinced. A significant role in solving the set tasks is assigned to private business, therefore, in the Year of Entrepreneurship, local authorities intend to provide maximum assistance to entrepreneurship. First of all, it is about implementing the provisions of Directive No. 4 and eliminating bureaucratic obstacles when working with the private sector. Public associations of entrepreneurs and business associations will be more actively involved in cooperation. Financial support for private businesses will increase to Br8 billion. These funds are intended to cover interest on loans for entrepreneurs implementing investment projects important for the region. Businessmen will have an equal opportunity to participate in the implementation of 25 key regional development programs - from small-scale energy to tourism. Within the next two years, a business center will be built, which will house a small business incubator, where novice entrepreneurs will be helped to implement their projects. Similar projects will be implemented in Polotsk, Novopolotsk, and Orsha. According to Oleg Matskevich, favorable conditions for the development of business and socially responsible initiatives will be created in the Year of Entrepreneurship, which will contribute to the development of a new economic policy, and this, in turn, will improve the well-being of the country's citizens. -0-