Journalists raised questions about "Dazhynki", young professionals, and consumer cooperation during Nikolai Sherstnev's press conference
Before the ceremony, the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev, emphasized that modern society is impossible to imagine without communications that form the information space.
– Mass media participate in creating the social mood of people, in forming the image of the region on a national scale. Solving these problems requires a conscientious attitude to work. The position of journalists should be not to hide shortcomings, but to identify them, reflect the causes, and seek solutions, – stressed the head of the region, noting that a number of publications, including "Vitebskiye Vesti," work this way.
Journalists, according to Nikolai Sherstnev, should not only be illustrators of life but also delve into the depths of the phenomena occurring. The word is a great weapon and a priceless medicine that can both destroy and heal.
After awarding the winners, the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee answered questions from media representatives.
On Society's Trust in the Media
– The media is a link between the state and the people. I start my workday by reading newspapers, first regional, then republican. In them, I find objective, timely information that helps me make the right and quick decisions. As the head of the region and a regular reader, I have high trust in state media. I pay special attention to critical publications. I believe that there is no progress without mistakes. Criticism is a stimulus for improvement, if it is objective and balanced.
In the modern world, mass media promptly cover current events. However, sometimes I find a lack of depth in the coverage of certain publications when it comes to serious economic and social issues.
About "Dazhynki" in Braslav
– The main motivation for holding "Dazhynki" in Braslav this year is to modernize the city, make it more attractive for both residents and guests. On the other hand, the festival of rural workers will be held in a region with a poorly developed agricultural sector. Therefore, I am combining the creation of conditions to enhance the tourist potential of the lake region with the revival of agriculture in the Braslav district. The city should become comfortable for living; the task is to put the streets in order, renovate housing, schools, kindergartens, sports facilities, and in the future, build a sports and recreation complex with a swimming pool. In the immediate plans, we will equip the city beach area, create infrastructure so that residents and tourists can enjoy catamarans, boats, etc. In recent years, the district center has been associated with the Viva Braslav festival, which attracts people from different countries. Last year, about 30,000 guests gathered – three times more than the city's population. We need to create good conditions for organizing this musical celebration, equip the stage, arrange parking, and determine accommodation for visitors. All this will affect the tourist attractiveness of Braslav.
The facilities currently under development have been selected taking into account the wishes of the city's population.
About integration structures in the agro-industrial complex
– We started discussing the creation of large agricultural complexes four years ago. This was my strategy, and I was firmly convinced of its success. By centralizing capital, we can compete in domestic and foreign markets. The government also adheres to this direction. The President of Belarus signed Directive No. 6, which includes the creation of large cooperative and integration formations, and agroholdings with the participation of organizations processing agricultural products. This is a roadmap, a strategy for the development of agriculture, and the Vitebsk region is moving in this direction. We have taken the first step by uniting about 30 farms with industrial enterprises for milk and meat processing. To date, four integration structures – Orsha, Polotsk, Glubokoye, and Vitebsk – cultivate 450 thousand hectares of arable land (800 thousand in total in the region), which is more than half of the land. It is evident how the structure of the fields is changing, how the farming culture has improved. The result is obvious. Previously, the Vitebsk region was the last to finish sowing spring crops, but this year it has become a leader. The future lies with large agricultural formations. The task is to modernize agriculture within five years. To create conditions so that the agro-industrial complex becomes attractive to young people, so that those living in rural areas have all the amenities no worse than in the city.
About young professionals
– The region is experiencing a shortage of highly educated specialists required by the realities of the time. Some enterprises are forced to train their own personnel. Educational institutions need to teach professions in demand on the labor market and train more students through targeted programs. Times are changing, and education has lagged behind today's needs. The main problem area is agriculture. Some regions of Belarus lack qualified veterinarians. We need to provide opportunities for rural residents to enter universities and return to their hometowns. Meanwhile, 70% of urban students enroll in the veterinary academy and disappear after receiving their diplomas. Approaches need to be changed. Forced post-graduation work is ineffective. A future specialist should know that all conditions are met at their workplace and that they will receive a good salary. It is gratifying to note that much has been done in this regard in the Vitebsk region, which is why graduates of the veterinary academy often request to be employed in our region.
On significant investment projects
– Most regions of Vitebsk are agricultural. The revenue from the agro-industrial complex in these regions ranges from 50 to 70%. Industry is mainly developed in large cities, while investors are in no hurry to invest in small ones. There are good examples, but they are not enough. In particular, a tinplate plant is being commissioned in Miory. Investors have invested $300 million in its creation. If one large enterprise were built in each district, it would solve many problems. Then young people would not leave for big cities in search of work.
There is progress in agriculture, consistent work is being done, and new complexes are being built. It is more difficult in industry for now. I would like residents themselves to show initiative, create production facilities, and for small and medium-sized businesses to develop.
On the problems of consumer cooperation
– We see that the situation in consumer cooperatives is getting worse every year, some district societies have gone bankrupt, and this primarily affects the quality of trade services for the rural population. We considered this problem in the executive committee and agreed to create a large network with a management company, eliminating intermediate district links and thereby reducing costs. "Euroopt" is an example of this. This retail chain has a smaller management apparatus for the entire country than we have in the region for consumer cooperation. They work modernly, while consumer cooperatives work in the old way. Therefore, the primary task is to change approaches, optimize, and reduce the cost component. This is not easy, considering the specifics of our region. There are over 6.3 thousand settlements in the Vitebsk region, while in the Brest region, for example, there are just over 3 thousand. We decided to experiment. The Orsha district is fully served by "Euroopt", and the profitability of trade here is higher than the republic's average. But Orsha region cannot be compared with Gorodok or Rossony districts, where settlements are not located so compactly. We are not ready to completely transfer trade to "Euroopt" and other networks. We may lose what we have. But we must consistently, step by step, modernize consumer cooperation, learn to compete at a modern level, and offer quality goods at the best prices. This year we must finish forming the management structure, and expect results next year.
About athletes
– Sporting achievements enhance the country's authority. The best athletes are an example for young people. Representatives of the Vitebsk region won 154 medals last year, which is the best result among all regions, except for Minsk. The European Games are a landmark event for Belarus, our athletes will perform among the world elite. We will cheer for them and wish them victory.
About lessons from father
– My parents were teenagers during the Great Patriotic War, one grandfather died in the Finnish War, the other in 1942. From my father's and mother's stories, their words about terrible hunger were clearly imprinted in my memory. In a field riddled with shells, in 20-degree frost, they collected frozen potatoes and cabbage. Today I think that this somehow left a mark on the further fate of my father, who was involved in agricultural production, and was a team leader in potato cultivation. I also remember how people helped each other, tried to survive and wait for Victory Day.
About my small homeland
– I recall my childhood and youth, and it seems to me that in those years we lived cheerfully, happily, and friendly. We children didn't have to repeat anything two or three times. We respected our parents. It's a pity that there are no relatives or acquaintances left in those places, but they live in my memory, as do my father's house, childhood, and youth. Having grown up and received a specialty, I started working in my native farm in the Orsha region. And today I try to visit my small homeland. I would like its settlements to be well-maintained, roads to be neat, and people to live in prosperity.