Vitebsk region has identified 25 priority development areas for 2011-2015

December 1, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The Vitebsk region has identified 25 priority development areas for the next five years. This was announced today at a press conference by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, a BELTA correspondent reports. Over the period 2011-2015, it is planned to implement 25 regional target programs in the region. They represent a kind of detailed action plan to ensure the comprehensive socio-economic development of the Vitebsk region, the governor explained. Alexander Kosinets named "Small Energy" as one of the most important programs, which provides for the construction of hydroelectric power plants and an increase in local types of fuel in the fuel balance. Its main goal is to reduce dependence on external supplies of hydrocarbon raw materials. The program for the development of the region's agro-industrial complex for 2011-2015, "Vitagro," is of particular importance. Its main directions will be ensuring food security, profitable and cost-effective operation of agricultural enterprises, further development of agricultural exports, and retaining highly qualified personnel in rural areas. The program pays great attention to issues of increasing wages and creating comfortable social and living conditions for rural workers. As a result of the program's implementation, the region will succeed in creating a highly efficient and competitive agriculture and ensuring a higher standard of living for the rural population. The pharmaceutical industry and the industrial production of veterinary drugs will receive priority development. The first stage of the drug manufacturing plant of OJSC "BelVitunipharm" has already been commissioned in Vitebsk. The "Vitebsk Pharmacy" program, based on this enterprise, provides for the creation of an educational, scientific, and production complex. The programs "Vitebsk Forest," "Vitebsk Furniture," "Vitebsk Flax," "Vitebsk Fur," "Vitstroy," "Vitneftekhim," and "Vitgaz" envisage the organization of production of fuel briquettes based on forestry enterprises, expansion of the furniture range at existing enterprises, modernization of flax processing plants, the fur factory, development of animal husbandry, creation of new production facilities for building materials from local raw materials, petrochemical products, and the production of liquefied gas. To address pressing social issues, the programs "Health" and "Children of the Vitebsk Region" have been developed. The programs "Historical Heritage of Vitebsk," "Golden Ring of Vitebsk," and "Northern Capital" provide for the preservation of the cultural heritage of the regional center and the creation of related recreation areas. The program "500" will contribute to the development of external and internal tourism. In accordance with it, over five years, 100 beaches on lakes and rivers will be improved, 100 hunting lodges, and the same number of roadside service facilities and agro-ecotourism estates will be built. These plans align with the republican development priorities for 2011-2015 and aim to ensure further growth in prosperity and improvement of living conditions for the population of the Vitebsk region through the modernization of economic relations, innovative development, and increased competitiveness of the regional economy, the governor emphasized. For the upcoming five-year period, the Vitebsk region has undertaken significant commitments. Thus, by 2015, the volume of goods and services produced will double compared to 2010, and the gross agricultural output will increase 1.7 times. -0-