Over Br279 billion allocated in the first half of the year for the development of small towns in the Vitebsk region

August 11, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Over Br279 billion was allocated in January-June this year for the development of small towns in the Vitebsk region within the framework of the State Comprehensive Program for the Development of Regions, Small and Medium-Sized Urban Settlements for 2007-2010, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Economy Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. The funds were invested in the development of social infrastructure, the creation of new enterprises and industries, jobs, and housing construction. The volume of industrial production in small towns in the reporting period increased by 18.7% compared to January-June of last year, consumer goods - by 13.9% respectively, and 128 small enterprises were registered. Their total number as of July 1 reached 1380 (92.3% of the target). An increase in the volume of industrial products and consumer goods is noted in the urban-type settlements of Borovukha (2 times and 2.2 times respectively compared to January-June 2009), Begoml (148.7% and 147.9%), and the towns of Disna (141.3% and 160%), Lepel (153% and 134.3%). The situation in the labor market of small and medium-sized urban settlements in the region remains stable. Thus, the number of people employed in the economy of small towns in January-June reached 125.7 thousand people, or almost 100% of the annual target. The unemployment rate at the end of the first half of the year as of July 1 was 1%. 2.6 thousand new jobs were created (56.7% of the 2010 target). The nominal accrued wage in June amounted to Br945.4 thousand.