Nikolai Sherstnev: 'Working at the pace of the real economy'. The head of the region on the transformation of the village, business activity, and effective investments
The end of the old year and the beginning of the new one are not only a change of dates on the calendar, but also a kind of milestone where goals and hopes meet. It is also a kind of "ritual": summing up the results and planning for the future. This is what we discuss in an interview with the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev.
— Nikolai Nikolaevich, the chronicle of the Vitebsk region covers a vast period of time: at the beginning of the year, the region celebrated its 80th anniversary. When a person reaches such a respectable age, it is customary to mention not only certain stages of the jubilee's development as a personality, but also their good deeds and successes...
— Projecting this tradition onto our region, I would like to note that this date unites many generations whose labor has created and strengthened our current well-being. Located in the center of Europe at the crossroads of different cultures and religions, our ancestors were forced to constantly defend their lands. The region and the country faced the greatest trials during the Great Patriotic War. Monuments and obelisks are evidence of the terrible battles and immense sacrifices made on the altar of freedom. It is our honor to maintain them in proper condition. For example, this year, a memorial complex was opened in Rossony after reconstruction.
During the opening of the memorial complex in Rossony after reconstruction
In the Dubrovno district, large-scale work continues at the burial site of 10,000 Soviet soldiers – the "Rylionki" memorial complex. Much has been done in the Liozno and Gorodok districts, and in the urban settlement of Surazh in the Vitebsk district, which launched events dedicated to the 75th anniversary of liberation from the Nazi invaders.
During the opening of the memorial complex in Liozno after reconstruction
The region has reached its anniversary as a developed and renewed entity in economic and social terms. Changes are occurring in the real sector of the economy: enterprises are undergoing reconstruction and technical re-equipment, and the production of new
продукции, agriculture is being transformed with the implementation of modern technologies and equipment. Positive changes are occurring in healthcare, education, culture, and sports.— Every year, the attractiveness of our region for foreign capital is growing. Its inflow is largely facilitated not only by its favorable geographical location but also by interesting investment proposals. Please tell us about the major projects that have been implemented.
— Indeed, the investment climate in the Vitebsk region is warming up. The overall economic growth of the region is accompanied by positive investment dynamics. In 2018, 15% more investments were attracted than in the previous year. The investment policy is focused on the development of the production sector, which receives about 70% of the investments. This year, a new fur complex was commissioned in Vitebsk, and a livestock complex for growing and producing pork was launched in the Tolochin district.
Vitebsk Fur Complex
Livestock complex in the Tolochin district
The effectiveness of the invested capital is confirmed by the constant demand for wood products, lifts and crane installations, power cables, lubricant additives, high-pressure hoses, new types of products from the Orsha Linen Mill, "Polotsk-Steklovolokno," and others.
In 2019, it is planned to allocate about 2.2 billion rubles of investments for the development of the region's economy. Priority will be given to projects for the commissioning of new technological complexes at "Naftan," a plant for the production of tinplate in Miory, the second phase of the plant for the production of commercial and refrigeration equipment "Modern-Expo," facilities of the second phase of the multimodal industrial and logistics complex "Bremno-Orsha," the construction of the third phase of the linen mill, and large livestock complexes and industrial facilities in the Orsha, Tolochin, and Chashnik districts.
— Recently, much attention has been paid to stimulating business development. Behind this are new productions, employment, and budget revenues. How actively are people starting their own businesses?
— Very actively. This is evidenced by figures and facts. The entrepreneurship sector accounts for one-third of investments and half of the region's goods exports. This year, every fourth ruble in the budget came from private businesses, and last year – every fifth. Support for entrepreneurship from the regional budget has been increased more than twofold. The priority for financial assistance is job creation. In 2018, about 5,000 people were employed through new productions and enterprises. This year, over 300 new organizations have been established. I will name only the largest of them. For example, OOO "Biofon-Vet" in Lepel district has started producing veterinary drugs, OOO "LK-MET" in Polotsk district – construction metal structures and their parts, ChUP "Ramalet" in Verkhnedvinsk district and OOO "LesEnergoKomplekt" in Rossony district – in the woodworking sector. In addition, organizations are being created to provide services to the population in retail trade, public catering, transport, and household services. The expansion of the entrepreneurial sector is one of the most important indicators of regional development. However, not all reserves are being utilized here. Graduates with vocational training should be more actively involved in this segment of the economy. Educational institutions should awaken the entrepreneurial spirit in future businessmen. And the government will support the development of private initiative.
— Land is a sacred asset; it can be generous and grateful in return for care and attention. This thought is a recurring theme at all sorts of meetings chaired by you. How rich was the flax harvest this year?
— First of all, I must say that the results of peasant labor, more than any other, are subject to the influence of natural factors. This year, special climatic conditions "enveloped" the region: first, a prolonged drought, then torrential rains. Despite the vagaries of the weather, Vitebsk region achieved an excellent result – 43.2
thousands of tons of flax straw. The leaders are the Dubrovno and Orsha districts. The last time such a gross harvest of flax straw was obtained was six years ago, although at the same time, twice as many flax-sowing organizations cultivated the crop.
The growth point is in the provision of modern equipment, the improvement of flax cultivation technology, as well as in the full utilization of flax processing plants, which should operate in three shifts. Therefore, the folk wisdom "Flax loves a bow" is also an indicator of the high-quality work of farmers. It is noteworthy that we honored the best representatives of this profession in Dubrovno at the "Flax Dozhinki" festival, held for the first time in the country.
— What issues in the agricultural sector still require a more in-depth and thorough inventory? And what positive work experience should be taken into tomorrow?
— The main thing is to work in the rhythm of the real economy, to be able to manage technologically everywhere, to learn to earn money. To achieve this, agromanagers need to psychologically reorient themselves, think in a modern way, and be bolder in embracing the new. All the necessary trump cards have been given to strengthen "management muscles" — the successful implementation of production goals, which should be translated into real actions. This includes the introduction of highly effective technologies in crop production and animal husbandry, improving farming practices, and reducing production costs. Therefore, a serious vector that affects the image of the industry is personnel training. A new strategy for training students of agricultural profile has been developed in the region's secondary vocational and higher education institutions. The duration of internships has been doubled, with only advanced farms equipped with modern technology serving as the base. And for organizations, as customers of personnel for the countryside, this is an opportunity to "cultivate" a strong production specialist for their enterprise.
A progressive leap in this direction has been made by the Gorodok Agricultural Technical College, which recently opened an updated resource center. Many agricultural machinery manufacturers provided assistance in its equipping. In particular, the Minsk Tractor Works, which donated modern tractors to the institution, fully equipped the laboratory and the training classroom for studying high-power tractors. In the future, MTZ intends to place orders with the college for graduates under a specific quota for their further employment at the holding's enterprises, including those located in the Vitebsk region.
— Good roads, quality water, gasification, and simply well-maintained modern villages with quality healthcare, education, and opportunities for sports... Addressing the topic of the village and its transformation, you have repeatedly emphasized that the main task is to make life in the countryside no worse than in the city. This thesis gains special significance in the Year of Small Motherland.
— That's right. We see the Belarusian village not only as the country's food production hub but also as our roots. The village is gradually acquiring a new look. For example, this year, the urban-type settlements of Bolbasovo and Yezershchye have been landscaped and put in order.
Urban-type settlement of Bolbasovo, Orsha District
Bogushevsk and Begoml are next. We will continue to fundamentally improve two settlements in the region annually, in addition to the city that will host the "Dazhynki" (Harvest Festival) for rural workers. I believe this is the right path, opening up prospects, including for rural youth. If people have decent housing, social facilities, and places for entertainment and recreation in their native village, then the village will come alive. However, alongside this, conditions for work are also important, linked to a strong production base and good wages. To attract highly qualified personnel to the countryside, a new remuneration system for specialists in the livestock industry has been introduced this year, as well as
mechanics. The salaries of other categories of rural workers will also be reviewed in stages. Undoubtedly, all this together will give rural residents confidence in the future and set the tone for fruitful work. Then the economy in the countryside will go up, which means that the social image of settlements will continue to change for the better. These processes are interconnected.— The commissioning of any facility is preceded by truly titanic work. And it is the builders who have the unique opportunity to leave the most noticeable mark on the earth. What are the most significant facilities that have appeared on the map of the region?
— In Vitebsk, a kindergarten has been commissioned in "Bilevo-2". It is noteworthy that the microdistrict is developing rapidly and is growing annually with a child population. But, unfortunately, there is an imbalance between the housing sector and social infrastructure. Equalizing this situation by building new kindergartens and schools is a task for the coming years.
New kindergarten in the Vitebsk microdistrict "Bilevo-2"
We are also paying attention to the healthcare sector. The construction of a new central district hospital in Miory has been completed, modernization work has been carried out at the Kopys district hospital in the Orsha district, reconstruction of the Semashko city hospital in Orsha and the obstetrics and gynecology department of Sennenskaya, capital repairs of the infectious diseases department of Novolukomlskaya, the gynecology department of Dubrovenksaya, the neurology post of the therapy department of Shumilinskaya CRB, the assembly hall and the allergology department of Vitebsk Regional Clinical Hospital, dental departments in Dokshitskaya, Beshenkovichskaya and Verkhnedvinskaya CRBs.
In March 2019, a new polyclinic in the YUG-7 microdistrict in Vitebsk will receive its first patients.
Polyclinic in the YUG-7 microdistrict in Vitebsk
Sports and recreation complexes have enriched the architectural ensembles of Verkhnedvinsk and Liozno.
New sports and recreation complex in Verkhnedvinsk
New sports and recreation complex in Liozno
The final touches are being made before the commissioning of the trampoline center in Vitebsk.
This year also saw the opening of new tourist facilities: a hotel and entertainment complex in Dubrovensky district and the "Serebryany Rodnik" recreation center in Beshenkovichi district.
Reconstruction work is underway on one of the largest transport arteries of the regional center – the Polotsk overpass. For the most part, Vitebsk residents, whose opinions and wishes were taken into account when forming the new traffic logistics, have reacted with understanding to the ongoing developments, knowing that the temporary inconveniences will pay off with comfort – the city will get a state-of-the-art overpass.
— The New Year is associated with hopes for the best, for something bright and positive for everyone. As the head of the region, what do you expect from 2019?
— The Vitebsk region is entering the New Year with a desire to work effectively, to strive for even more significant results and achievements. After all, the ultimate goal of all our efforts is to do everything possible to make life and work comfortable for people in the Vitebsk region. This is our common mission, and that of those who care about the fate of the region and are concerned about everything that is happening around. Only in this way can one find solid ground and confidence in the future.
— Nikolay Nikolayevich, thank you for the interview!
Olga BULAVKA. Photos from the archives of BELTA and the newspaper "Vitebskiye Vesti".