Nikolai Sherstnev: "We will develop and improve what has been achieved"
— Nikolai Nikolaevich, the economy is the foundation of people's well-being. Where the approach to business is thoughtful, the results are calculated, and costs are optimized, positive growth trends are emerging. The success of each organization, each specialist is important for the region. After all, the mosaic of our achievements is assembled bit by bit. What has been achieved in the real sector of the economy?
— The region is completing the year with profitable work in all sectors of the economy. Production output has increased compared to 2016, exports and sales of goods to the population have grown.
The region's industry is operating with growth in net profit and sales profitability. The share of innovative products in the total volume of shipped products of industrial enterprises is about 30 percent. This is one of the highest indicators in Belarus.
In the current year, about 300 new enterprises and production facilities have started their operations. For example, in Vitebsk, OOO "Vitvideo" has begun manufacturing electrical equipment; in the Postavy district, "Promis Plant" produces machinery and equipment for agriculture; in Novopolotsk, the private enterprise "Vershilovskie" is engaged in sewing garments; new wood processing enterprises have appeared in the Beshenkovichi, Vitebsk, and Sharkovshchina districts.
5.7 thousand people have been employed in the jobs created by new enterprises and production facilities.
— Here is another illustrative example: this summer, the Polotsk and Vitebsk hydroelectric power stations began operating on the Western Dvina River.
— The region's energy sector has a number of investment projects to its credit, implemented recently. The Vitebsk Hydroelectric Power Station has become the most powerful hydroelectric power station in the republic. Its installed electric capacity is 40 megawatts. This is enough to supply electricity to consumers in the Vitebsk region.
The commissioning of a cascade of hydroelectric power stations will save on the purchase of fuel resources and contribute to reducing the environmental impact.
In October, new energy-saving greenhouses were commissioned in Orekhovsk, Orsha district. They are supplied with heat by the Belarusian State Regional Power Station, which runs on local fuels. Vegetables are grown here all year round.
By the way, in terms of electricity generation, the Vitebsk energy system is currently the most powerful in the country. Ahead of it is the implementation of measures to integrate with the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant.
— Nikolay Nikolayevich, the past year was marked by an intensification of business cooperation with regions of near and far abroad. You took part in the IV Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia in Moscow. A number of visits and interesting meetings took place, for example, in the Volgograd, Astrakhan, Tver, and other regions of the Russian Federation. All this yields results. What are they?
— In dialogue with partners, we find both understanding and readiness to solve many problems.
The region is increasing its product exports. Sales abroad increased in 2017 compared to 2016 by 1.4 times. Products bearing the Vitebsk manufacturers' mark are supplied to 90 countries worldwide and to more than 78 Russian regions. Cooperation with Russia is developing most extensively. Traditional sales markets for us also include Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, and Turkey. Serious attention is paid to foreign trade relations with Chinese provinces. In total, the regional executive committee has signed 27 agreements, including with regions of Vietnam, Thailand, and Pakistan.
It is gratifying that the share of private business in promoting products in foreign markets is increasing.
— To what extent, in your opinion, does the Decree "On the Development of Entrepreneurship" signed in November contribute to the liberation of business initiative?
— This key document from the package on simplifying business conditions has given it an impetus. Entrepreneurship makes a significant contribution to the regional budget, accounting for one-fifth of it, half of the goods exported, and one-third of investments. The authorities, understanding the significance and contribution of this sector, have allocated 500 thousand rubles from the regional budget to support entrepreneurship. We are betting on small and medium-sized businesses; the future lies with them. After all, business contributes to the formation of a competitive environment, ensures the growth of consumer goods production, expands the service sector, and provides additional stability to the economy.
— In the past year, special attention was paid to the Orsha district by the country's and region's leadership. What has been done and what projects have already been identified for implementation?
— The settlement of Kopyś has acquired a new type of modern European town, becoming a benchmark for similar settlements in the country. Engineering and transport infrastructure has been created here, the street and road network has been reconstructed; new social, commercial, tourist, and sports facilities have been established; and existing enterprises have been modernized. The wishes of local residents were taken into account. All work was carried out in the shortest possible time, with high quality and at a low cost, and received a good assessment from the head of state.
Projects in the agro-industrial complex have been thoroughly developed. We will build farms for 1.2 thousand head of dairy herd in "Ustye" and "Tepichny", for 2 thousand head in "Yubileiny", and complete the reconstruction of the farm in "Larinovka". A large-scale modernization awaits the "Zadneprovsky" pig complex.
The development of processing enterprises also drives the construction of new complexes. The Orsha Dairy Plant will be modernized, and a new slaughterhouse is planned for the meat canning plant. Decisions have already been made on these projects, funding sources have been identified, and the implementation phase is beginning. Changes in the region will affect not only agriculture but also industry and the social sphere.
— In 2017, despite difficulties and capricious weather, Vitebsk region harvested over a million tons of grain, with a gross yield 170,000 tons higher than the previous year. What is the dynamic with which the region's agro-industrial complex enters the new year?
— The course taken to update the machine and tractor fleet will continue. This year, over a thousand units of modern, high-performance equipment were purchased.
Thanks to the transformations occurring in the agro-industrial complex, the concentration and consolidation of production, and the creation of integration structures and large holdings, enterprises will gain financial stability.
The dynamics in the region's agriculture are positive across key indicators. Net profit has been achieved, sales profitability and revenue have increased, and costs have been optimized.
In 2017, the second phase of a modern pig-breeding enterprise with a capacity of 55,000 pigs per year was commissioned in the Tolochin district. The facility will be fully operational by the end of the year. In 2018, construction will begin on 12 dairy farms and 4 pig breeding complexes.
— A lot is being done in the regions to improve living conditions, and infrastructure and services for the population are developing. As governor, it is important to you that everyone can realize themselves as individuals, unlock their abilities and talents. It is clear that the foundation for personal growth is laid in school. The reform of the education system is aimed at ensuring that both students and teachers benefit. What directions, in your opinion, have proven most valuable here?
— In the Year of Science, the Vitebsk region became the leader in the development of infrastructure for supporting talent in the country. It was the Vitebsk business that was the first in the country to implement a regional program project to support young talents in science and sports "Talentavita". Its initiators were the Vitebsk pharmaceutical cluster and SOOO "Nativita". The innovation was supported by the regional executive committee, the State Committee on Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of Belarus.
Students of the region pleased with their victories at international Olympiads. They won a bronze medal at the IV International Geography Olympiad for schoolchildren of the Baltic region, a silver medal at the International Olympiad in Informatics (in the Islamic Republic of Iran), and a bronze medal at the International Geography Olympiad (in the Republic of Serbia).
In December of this year, we awarded 70 students who achieved high results in republican and international Olympiads, and 54 teachers with the regional executive committee award.
Svetlana Rumyantseva, a Belarusian language teacher from Borovukha Secondary School No. 15 in Novopolotsk, successfully performed at the republican competition "Teacher of the Year-2017", where she became the winner.
Among the new facilities commissioned in 2017 in the field of education are preschool educational institutions in the cities of Orsha and Glubokoe.
The optimization of the education network is primarily aimed at improving the quality of education. Our strategy is to create modern conditions for the education and upbringing of children, regardless of their place of residence in the city or the countryside.
— Nikolay Nikolayevich, cardinal changes are also taking place in the healthcare system. The other day, a new dental department of the hospital in Dokshitsy was opened, and medical professionals in Orsha and Miory are about to move into new facilities. How do you assess the results of the industry's work in the past year?
— The material and technical base of healthcare institutions has significantly improved. In 2017, 40 million rubles were allocated by the region for the reconstruction, modernization, and construction of healthcare facilities, and half of the budget funds were spent on modern medical equipment.
The reconstruction and modernization of almost all central district hospitals have been completed. A doctor's outpatient clinic has been opened in the Bilevo microdistrict in Vitebsk. Women's health clinics in the regional center have been updated. The reconstruction of the Semashko City Hospital in Orsha and the construction of the central district hospital in Miory are being completed.
Funds have been allocated for the construction of a polyclinic in the Yug-7A microdistrict in Vitebsk. Full funding is provided for its completion in 2018. Next year, the reconstruction of the surgical building of the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Oncology Center will also be completed.
High technologies in cardiology, oncology, and surgery are applied immediately after the medical equipment is put into operation. The angiographic complex installed in the Vitebsk Regional Cardiology Center has already saved dozens of people from heart attacks. As a result, the life expectancy of the region's residents has increased by 4 years over the past 5 years. Childhood morbidity has decreased.
— Recently, more and more attention has been paid to the attractiveness of Belarus and its regions, as well as image projects that work to attract foreign tourists and guests. What can we be proud of in this regard, what new things have appeared in the region?
— Vitebsk region is associated with traditions of high culture; it is known worldwide for its large-scale festival projects – "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk," contemporary choreography, "Zvany Safii" in Polotsk, "Braslavskie Zarnitsy," and many others. In the year of the 500th anniversary of Belarusian printing, much was done for the development of tourist infrastructure for the Day of Belarusian Written Language in Polotsk. It is the cradle of our statehood, the "father of Belarusian cities"; I would like to remind you that we opened a monument to Belarusian statehood in Polotsk as part of the celebration of the Day of Belarusian Written Language. Ancient Polotsk and young Novopolotsk have all the opportunities to become a true Belarusian tourist mecca.
The region boasts a unique combination of lakes and forests, rivers and wetlands, highlands and lowlands. A significant portion of valuable and simply unique European landscapes is concentrated here. It is no coincidence that Vitebsk region ranks second in the country among regions by the number of registered agro-ecotourism entities. In 2017, more than 50 tourism facilities were commissioned. Among them are 2 roadside service facilities and a hotel in Dokshytsy district.
The recreation centers "Verasy" (OJSC "VZRJ "Monolit") and "Starye vyazy" (IOOO "BelNanoAgro") in Vitebsk district and "Losvido" in Horadok district have started receiving guests. A sailing school has been established in Braslav.
A health resort complex in Hlybokaye district and a shopping and public center in Polotsk have been commissioned.
As part of the implementation of the action plan for the development of camping and caravanning, 8 campsites are operating in the Vitebsk region.
— Through your passion for sports, we see a bright and convincing advocate and promoter of a healthy lifestyle. The path to health begins not at the pharmacy, but in the gym, on the treadmill, or in the swimming pool. In this regard, physical culture and sports in Vitebsk region are on the rise. Isn't that so?
— For sports activities in our region, 4120 sports facilities have been created, including 3 ice palaces, 7 stadiums, 670 sports halls, 112 swimming pools, and other facilities. We commission new facilities annually. This year, the "Yunost" sports and recreation complex with a swimming pool in Ushachy, a swimming pool in Horadok, a city stadium in Dubroŭna, and multi-purpose sports grounds with artificial turf in Dubroŭna and Senna.
By implementing the State Program for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports in the Republic of Belarus, we aim to involve as many people as possible in sports. To this end, outdoor exercise equipment is being installed in courtyards, ice rinks are being flooded, and hockey boxes are being set up in residential areas. A new youth movement, "For a Healthy Lifestyle," has gained traction in the region. The first sports ground for street gymnastics or workout was opened in November 2014. Now, similar grounds have been installed in Vitebsk at secondary schools No. 25 and No. 34, as well as in Orsha, Novopolotsk, and Senno.
We also cheer for our athletes in professional sports. Last year, our fellow countrymen Vladislav Goncharov and Andrey Pranevich returned from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics with gold medals. The recent World Trampoline Championships, where Vladislav Goncharov once again took the top spot on the podium in synchronized jumps, confirmed this as a result of systematic work. In total, in 2017, athletes from the Vitebsk region won 128 medals at official international competitions, including 57 gold medals. In early next year, the XXIII Winter Olympic Games will be held in Pyeongchang, Korea. Seven representatives from the Vitebsk region are candidates for participation. We hope for their successful performance.
According to the State Program for Creating an Accessible Environment, over 5 years, instead of the planned construction work at 9 sports facilities in the Vitebsk region, work was actually carried out at 13 sports facilities. Currently, 38 sports facilities in the region are adapted for organizing physical culture and recreational activities for individuals with physical disabilities.
Promoting a healthy lifestyle does not require significant financial investment. The main thing is to set a goal and persistently pursue it, gradually achieving results.
— What are your wishes for the newspaper readers and residents of the region in the New Year.
— What has been achieved this year must be consolidated and we must move forward. Significant systemic work lies ahead in the real sector of the economy and the national economic complex. Priority tasks include further modernization of production, attracting investment, developing new types of products, finding sales markets, and training highly professional personnel.
Our life is woven from small joys and successes, disappointments and failures. In the New Year, by tradition, we do not dwell on the bad, but take only the best to develop and improve further.
Someone had a son or daughter, someone received an educational diploma, built a house or apartment, someone found love, started a family. And even if there were no significant joys, there were still simply good, happy days.
Therefore, I wish you never to stop at what has been achieved, to boldly move forward, to show more initiative and perseverance. Health, happiness, well-being, success! Comfort, peace and warmth in your home, understanding and love of your loved ones!
Interview conducted by Svetlana DEDINKINA,chief specialist
of the main department of ideological work,
culture and youth affairs of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.