Around 2.5 trillion rubles are planned to be spent on "Dazhynki-2014" in Horadok
The location of Gorodok is both an advantage and a disadvantage – its proximity to the regional center and the border with the Russian Federation. On the one hand, one can count on attracting investors, developing trade and exports, which is already evident in the example of some local enterprises. On the other hand, there is a outflow of personnel, as many prefer to commute to work in Vitebsk every day or to work seasonally on Russian construction sites.
In order to withstand such competition for labor, it is necessary to develop production, create decent working and recreational conditions for the residents of the district. This is what the regional authorities are currently concerned about. They do not hide that the upcoming 2014 republican festival-fair of rural workers "Dozhynki" will be a great help in solving these tasks. Especially in terms of renovating the district center and its social infrastructure.
The expectations are understandable, as cities of the Vitebsk region that have already hosted the festival can serve as a vivid example of transformation: Polotsk (2002) and Orsha (2008). As well as a number of other settlements, for which global renovations became a starting point for their further improvement. What can we say: the roads are smooth, the building facades are in excellent condition, and new infrastructure facilities are in demand. And now "Dozhynki" is again hosted by the northern region. And this is a great responsibility not only for the district center but also for the entire region.
A plan of measures to prepare for the festival in Gorodok has already been drawn up. According to preliminary estimates, about 2.5 trillion rubles will be needed to implement the plan. These will be budget funds, as well as the enterprises' own funds, and loans. The main part of the expenses will be directed towards the improvement and external appearance of the city. However, the changes will affect many areas, and everyone has started preparatory work.
– Of course, it is a great honor for Gorodok to host such an important holiday for our country. We will try to do everything to look worthy. But much depends on the allocation of financial resources. In the meantime, we are doing what we can ourselves, striving to improve our region, – said Tatyana Voronko, Deputy Chairman of the District Executive Committee for Economics.
Firstly, it concerns the development of the production base, which affects budget formation and job creation. For instance, in June of the current year, a branch of KUPP "Vitebchanka" was commissioned in Gorodok. An unused building of the former military enlistment office was sold at auction, where after completion of renovation works, a branch of OOO "Ameli-TD" (Vitebsk), engaged in knitting production, will be located. It is planned to equip two workshops here and create 40 jobs. An increase in staff is possible, but everything depends on sales; no one will work for stock, emphasizes Tatyana Anatolyevna. The building of the former repair plant is also undergoing reconstruction, where the company "Lanotex" has organized import substitution production: the output of non-woven materials, which are in demand not only domestically but also abroad. For the first half of the current year, the export of these products amounted to 664 thousand US dollars. The production of plastic products will be handled by ChP "Gors", which also intends to supply goods both to the domestic market and for export.
By the end of 2013, SOOO "Belvest" will open a workshop for assembling shoe uppers in Gorodok. There are plans to create a branch of the Tolochin Cannery on the basis of the former food processing plant, where berries, mushrooms will be processed, and mineral water will be bottled.
Gorodok Poultry Farm, as well as the foreign enterprise "Detskoselsky-Gorodok", have their own modernization plans. However, the Russian investor has already commissioned a modern dairy farm complex, where the latest technologies and world standards have been implemented. As a result, for the first half of 2013, export deliveries of products were made for the amount of 1.7 million dollars. Russian partners are more willing to purchase products that do not require high transportation costs. It is the proximity to the border of the neighboring state that helps the region to fulfill its foreign economic activity indicators year after year.
The region's agro-industrial complex also plans to approach "Dazhynki" with good results. As noted by the First Deputy Chairman of the District Executive Committee, Vladimir Kovalev, serious work is underway to increase sown areas:
– Once, there were 73 thousand hectares of arable land in the Gorodok district, now there are 28. Analysis has shown that we can reach 35. Land reclamation requires considerable financial investment. However, the land that has been brought back into use yields good results in crop production. There are also prospects for increasing the weight gain of cattle and milk production.
At the same time, there are issues that require assistance from regional and republican authorities. For the most part, they concern the social sphere, the improvement of which the district has quite ambitious plans for. As reported by Nadezhda Burunova, Deputy Chairman of the District Executive Committee for Social Affairs, by "Dazhynki" (harvest festival), the arrangement of a ski-roller track in Vorobyovy Gory is expected, and a sports complex with a swimming pool based at the "Raubichi" hotel will be completed. In addition, reconstruction is planned for the House of Culture, the House of Crafts, the music school, the local history museum, the cinema, kindergartens, the sports school, and many other facilities. Work has already begun in full swing on the main city square, which, along with the memorial complex in the adjacent square, will be noticeably transformed: recreation areas will appear, a dense hedge of thuja trees and wrought-iron gates at the entrance, decorative lighting for trees and paths, and new plaques with the names of fallen heroes.
– Our district is one of the largest in the republic by area. Forests occupy almost half of its territory, and there are also over 100 lakes. Such conditions suggest the development of tourism services, and the border region offers opportunities for economic and cultural cooperation with the regions of Russia, while proximity to Vitebsk allows for the placement of branches of major enterprises of the regional center. And if all the plans for changing the appearance of the city, creating new facilities and jobs are realized, it will be a significant boost for us, opening up new prospects, – believes Tatyana Voronko.
Olga Maslovskaya, Vitebskiye Vesti