Consumer cooperation has become a companion to "Slavianski Bazaar". Every year, trade rows and public catering tents are set up at the arts forum. City residents and visitors enjoy sitting at tables on the festive streets, treating themselves to hot shashlik, and buying souvenirs in memory of hospitable Vitebsk.

A significant volume of investments is planned to be utilized this year as well. In particular, a dairy farm for 1,000 head of cattle is to be built, a boiler room is to be reconstructed, and ice cream production is to be expanded.

Over the past four years, Vitebsk manufacturers have increased their product exports by almost one and a half times. The main trading partners are enterprises and companies from Russia, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and China. Among the new export destinations are Australia, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and South Africa. For 10 months of 2009, the foreign trade turnover amounted to $674.7 million, including $312.6 million worth of exported goods (83.6% compared to the same period in 2008) and $362.1 million worth of imported goods (75.8%).

Novopolotsk has joined the ranks of 35 pilot regions in Belarus where the EU/UNDP project "Sustainable Development at the Local Level" will be implemented. Its educational institutions have actively engaged in developing mini-projects aimed at education for sustainable development, improving tourist infrastructure along green routes, and creating eco-museums. As emphasized by Tatiana Suzdaleva, despite the fact that the proposals were prepared by a gymnasium and an extracurricular activities center, their projects are important for the overall development of the region.

The main item on the agenda of the Moscow delegation's visit will be participation in the international arts festival "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk", which is hosting Moscow Day today.