New Year's greeting from the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee

The New Year's threshold prompts us to look back at the past segment of life, to evaluate what has been achieved in the outgoing year. For everyone, it was filled with its own joys and sorrows, achievements and losses. But overall, 2015 left a good memory.

Dear residents of the region!

We are on the threshold of 2016. A few hours separate us from the chiming clock that will mark the start of new hopes, deeds, and accomplishments.

The New Year's threshold prompts us to look back at the past segment of life, to evaluate what has been achieved in the outgoing year. For everyone, it was filled with its own joys and sorrows, achievements and losses. But overall, 2015 left a good memory.

Despite the raging political and economic cataclysms in the world, peace, stability, and social harmony are preserved in the country. The authority of our state in the international arena has been strengthened as a country advocating for good neighborliness and peaceful resolution of disputes. Significant events that have further united us include the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, the presidential elections of the Republic of Belarus, and the events of the Year of Youth.

In the Vitebsk region, this period was filled with substantive work by authorities and work collectives in various areas of economic and socio-cultural development. The growth rate of industrial production in the region exceeded 110%. We produced more technical goods, light industry products, and food products. 126 new organizations and production facilities created in 2015 contributed to the overall result.

The export of our goods was successfully increased, and new sales markets were developed in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, India, Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Montenegro, and other regions of the world.

Simultaneously, major investment projects were implemented for the modernization of several industrial enterprises, including the construction of a dairy farm for 1800 heads in the Gorodok district, and the Polotsk and Vitebsk hydroelectric power stations.

The agricultural workers have done a great job. The gross grain and pulse harvest has approached 1.4 million tons. This result has been achieved for only the second time in the region's history.

Tolochn was transformed for the regional festival-fair of rural workers. Natural gas has been supplied to the agro-town of Zubrevichi, Orsha district. More housing has been built than in the previous year, 154 trade facilities, 45 public catering facilities, and 4 roadside service facilities have been opened. Among the notable new constructions of the year are the reconstructed departments in the Tolochn and Rossonsk central district hospitals, the local history museum in Verkhnedvinsk, and the rural club in the agro-town of Chernevichi, Gluboksk district.

I express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has strengthened the prestige of goods with the Vitebsk brand in the country and in the world, achieved high labor results, and ensured the implementation of social programs.

The coming year will be marked by important political events, the main of which will be the elections to the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus.

There is a lot of work ahead to fulfill the socio-economic development forecasts, reform the agro-industrial complex, and improve the quality and competitiveness of products. The implementation of the plan will require creativity, diligence, perseverance, and determination.

New Year is a family holiday, which many celebrate with their loved ones. Raising our glasses, we thank fate for the son or daughter born in the outgoing year, the built house, a new career takeoff, a memorable vacation, and other joyful events, and we make wishes for the future.

May everyone have the strength and opportunities to achieve their goals!

Happiness, health, peace and warmth in your homes, understanding and love of your loved ones!

Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

                                                                                                         N.N. Sherstnev,
                                                                                                         Chairman
                                                                                                         Vitebsk Regional
                                                                                                         Executive Committee.