Since the end of 2009, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee has concluded 38 investment agreements worth $400 million.

May 20, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. The Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee has concluded 38 agreements with foreign and domestic investors totaling $400 million since the end of 2009. This was announced today at the opening of the international forum "Innovative Business - Investments in the Future" by Oleg Matskevich, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, as reported by a BELTA correspondent. In recent years, the region has seen the creation of entirely new production facilities for liquefied gases, lubricant additives, power and optical cables, and special-purpose vehicles. New production facilities for modern types of clothing, footwear, and food products are being developed. The construction of a plant for processing sweet whey will be completed in the near future. An investment proposal for the creation of a production facility for processing sour whey is also under consideration, which will enable a full cycle of local raw material processing and the production of dry dairy products highly sought after in foreign markets. Issues related to the creation of transport and logistics centers in the region have been intensified, primarily in the vicinity of major transport and railway hubs - Vitebsk and Orsha. Along with this, sites are being sought for the placement of similar centers in the border areas with Latvia and Russia. Projects related to the production of fuel materials from local raw materials - flax shives, peat, wood chips - have received a new impetus, said Oleg Matskevich. He also noted that in the near future, investors intend to begin implementing a project for the disposal of household waste, recycling of secondary raw materials, and obtaining gas from them for subsequent extraction of thermal and electrical energy. The construction of biogas plants is planned at enterprises of the housing and communal services and agricultural complex. "The measures taken will allow us to increase the share of local types of fuel in the region's fuel and energy balance to 75% by 2013," emphasized the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee. Another feature of recent years is the intensification of investment activities in small towns of the Vitebsk region through the creation of a special investment climate, which allows for the prompt involvement of property complexes in economic circulation and the resolution of other issues. Oleg Matskevich also drew the attention of the forum participants to the fact that today's event prioritizes innovative activities and the implementation of scientific developments in production. Thus, this year the region plans to increase the share of innovative products in the total volume of shipped industrial products to 21%, utilizing the potential of all educational institutions for this purpose. Over the next five years, the export of high-tech products is planned to increase by 2.6 times, stated the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. The participants of the investment forum, which is taking place in Vitebsk on May 20-21, include over 200 representatives of the business community from 12 countries. Over 150 new proposals have been presented for consideration by potential investors. Priority areas include innovative technologies in logistics, energy saving, food and woodworking industries, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, and tourism. During the forum, a scientific and practical exhibition of innovative and investment projects "Science. Innovations. Investments" is planned, as well as presentations of priority projects, a contact and cooperation exchange, and visits to enterprises and investment sites. Investors will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with projects already successfully implemented in the region, and to communicate with businessmen engaged in investment activities in the region. -0-