«STEP»: what Vitebsk schoolchildren asked the Deputy Minister of Economy of Belarus, Anzhelika Nikitina
– I did not immediately hold high positions. After studying at the Vitebsk Polytechnic College, I worked as a saleswoman. In 2004, I graduated from the Belarusian Agricultural Academy, and in 2017, from the Academy of Management under the President of the Republic of Belarus. Since 2000, I worked in the economics department of the Vitebsk District Executive Committee's Agriculture and Food Department. From 2016 to 2020, I headed the economics committee of the regional executive committee. To achieve success, you need, first of all, to have a great desire to move forward, – said Anzhelika Alexandrovna.
– If you had a time machine, where would you travel? – this was the next unusual question.
– I would not want to go to the past, maybe to the future, it's interesting what our country will be like. After all, a lot is being done in it now.
– How did the pandemic situation affect the economy of Belarus? – one of the students asked.
– It is good that young people are not indifferent to what is happening and ask such questions, – noted the Deputy Minister. – The situation related to the spread of COVID-19 had a lesser impact on the economy of Belarus than on other European countries. Not a single enterprise was shut down. Some went to remote work, while others were in self-isolation. Currently, the government has set a task to bring the country's GDP to 100% by the end of the year (today it is 99.7%). I think this figure will be achieved. After all, there are investment projects, and export sales are actively underway, including to China. I want to note that Vitebsk enterprises have increased the volume of food products to China by 2.5 times, and the Vitebsk Broiler Poultry Factory – by five times.
The pandemic has largely affected small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the transport and tourism sectors. However, the state timely took measures, which were embodied in Decree No. 143 "On Support for the Economy". I believe our country has endured this year with dignity.
– What specialists will be in demand in the next 5-10 years? – the students asked.
– Today, the country is focusing on high value-added products, which require qualified workers, for example, in the fields of bio- and IT-technologies, and pharmaceuticals, – said Anzhelika Nikitina. – Enterprises are modernizing and switching to the use of software-controlled equipment. The digitalization of the economy and the creation of smart cities are underway. There is a demand for IT specialists. With the opening of the nuclear power plant in the country, the need for relevant personnel has arisen.
Such areas of activity as logistics and tourism remain relevant, especially for the border regions of the country.
Of course, the future also lies in the agro-industrial complex. Today, large commodity integration associations are being created at the level of processing enterprises, where specialists are needed.
More than ever, manual labor is needed. It is gratifying that our education system allows one to obtain the necessary profession, and then improve and enter higher educational institutions.
– Can a young person after school, without specific experience, start their own business? What is needed for this? – this question was addressed to the deputy minister.
– Of course, yes. Labor legislation allows this, but at the same time, one needs to analyze their capabilities. In Vitebsk, there is a center for entrepreneurship support, where appropriate assistance will be provided, – commented Anzhelika Aleksandrovna.
One of the students, Angelina Volchek, who this year won the district stage of the financial literacy Olympiad, presented her idea to the deputy minister. The girl proposed developing a series of classes "Financial Literacy for Little Ones".
– This is a good initiative, relevant for the current time, – Angelica Nikitina assessed. – We will definitely consider options. Perhaps it will be a brochure.
At the end of the meeting, Angelica Alexandrovna added that today the future of the country is in the hands of each of us. Together we must build it, do everything to make our country a good place to live.