By 2020, the Orsha district should achieve self-sufficiency. How exactly, the new head of the district explained
– Igor Vladimirovich, your appointment to the position has become a new starting point for the Orsha region. What are your top priorities, and how are they being addressed?
– The top priority set by the head of state after his visit to Orsha was to establish order. In the first days of my work, a subbotnik (volunteer work day) was organized, which served as a catalyst for the management of enterprises and organizations. This was followed by a directive to hold a month-long cleanup campaign. Economic groups have been created at enterprises, and people have been provided with tools and workwear, and equipment where necessary. This work is now being carried out systematically and continuously.
Some enterprise territories, such as SMP No. 724 of OJSC "Trest Beltransstroy," are heavily cluttered. What has accumulated over years cannot be cleaned up in a single day. Meetings have been held repeatedly with the participation of both regional leadership and high-ranking state officials to review the work done and set new tasks.
By the way, UP ZhKH "Orshakomkhoz," PU "Orshagaz," Orsha Forestry, and OJSC "Stankozavod "Krasny Borets" can serve as examples of purposeful, fruitful, and conscientious activity. Intensive work is underway at the Instrument Plant, "Legmash," and in OJSC "Zavod PAK," "Tekhnika svyazi."
The cleanup efforts have also extended to agricultural organizations: relevant instructions have been given regarding the proper maintenance of machine yards, production facilities, and territories. There is a lot of work to be done, and little time.
Specific instructions have been given to rural executive committees – some chairpersons have already received reprimands for the improper organization of interaction with institutions and enterprises located within their rural soviets, regarding the restoration of order.
A number of remarks have also been made to road services owned by the republic, facilities and structures under the jurisdiction of energy companies, BPS-Bank divisions, as well as the "Metallist" plant.
These are priority tasks that we must resolve in the shortest possible time, whatever it may take.
– And now, about something more global: how will you achieve self-supporting operations?
– This is an issue that requires the most thorough consideration. It concerns not only industry but also agriculture, construction, and housing and communal services.
The coordinator here is the Ministry of Economy, which is currently accumulating all rational proposals submitted at the level of both the highest officials of the republic and the regional executive committee, district executive committee; measures are being developed point-by-point across all areas.
A separate decree will likely be signed by the head of state.
The revised comprehensive development plan for the Orsha district will consist of 18 blocks that will cover all areas.
As an example, consider the work with unused property, of which, unfortunately, there is a lot today. Perhaps this issue, which concerns both attracting investors and significant financial resources, should be considered at the legislative level. Nuances of taxation specifically for Orsha will also be addressed – there are proposals for profit allocation from VAT.
Regarding industry, each enterprise is being analyzed: where modernization is needed, where investors should be attracted and vacant spaces should be functionally utilized, joint ventures should be created, import substitution tasks should be solved, sales markets should be expanded, and so on. Approximately 50 industrial and non-industrial enterprises have been selected, which play a significant role in tax contributions and form the district's budget.
Step-by-step subprograms will address specific measures and activities for each of them. In construction, plans also include modernization and the creation of innovative production facilities. For example, regarding the construction materials and components plant, the issue of attracting an investor to open a new production of monolithic products for construction using modern technologies is being worked out.
In housing and communal services, this involves expanding and improving the quality of services provided to the population. However, additional equipment, including specialized machinery, is needed. All this is being done to ensure that people receive decent wages and a robust budget is formed, which can then be directed, among other things, towards the development of the social sphere.
Currently, the Orsha district is subsidized by the budget by 30%. By the end of 2019, we must reduce the region's subsidization to 15%. And in 2020, we aim to achieve a profitable, self-sufficient level entirely.
– What are the deadlines for implementing the plans?
– The critical time is two years. This is the timeframe for enterprise managers to achieve break-even operations.
– 13% of the investments in the district's economy is agriculture. This is a significant figure, but there are resources for more. How do you plan to develop this sector?
– The development of agriculture today relies on high-tech equipment. We also need to improve the condition of milking parlors, modernize some of them, and enhance execution discipline. Only then, by leveraging science and technology, can we achieve high performance indicators. However, the biggest problem in agriculture is the shortage of specialists.
We will carefully monitor graduates of specialized higher education institutions, assess existing specialists, and, if necessary, attract qualified personnel from other districts, creating appropriate working and living conditions for them.
In the future, we plan to establish a university branch in Orsha to train individuals in specialties that are in demand in the region.
The proposal will be submitted to the government for consideration. As for rental houses, it is currently not financially feasible to build them. However, five to six new apartments to attract and retain young professionals are a realistic goal.
– During the consideration of your candidacy for the position of Chairman of the District Executive Committee, Head of the Presidential Administration Natalya Kochanova demanded that the work with citizens' appeals be put in order…
– Yes, this is an important issue. Following a series of inspections, pain points were identified in housing and communal services, road management, and other areas. Responsible officials have been held accountable. Further monitoring is underway, and I have instructed to re-verify each appeal and its response by directly contacting the applicants and visiting their locations. Work with the public should not be a formality. This is unacceptable.
– Thank you for the interview.