Regional development named key task for Belarus

“The key task for Vitebsk Oblast and the country is the development of regions. This will be the main direction. We need to focus more on the regions!” the Belarusian leader noted.

He noted that the country has programs and plans for large and small cities, rural settlements, on accelerated development of cities and districts with a population of about 80,000. This work started from Orsha in Vitebsk Oblast. “We decided to turn it into an example how regions should develop. I think we have 11 cities like Orsha, and each of them has their own development program, following the example of Orsha,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“Please, bear in mind that the responsibility for the implementation of these programs will be tough,” the Belarusian leader said.

The president stated that all areas of regional development had been outlined, from unpromising villages, farmsteads, and agro-towns to district and regional centers. “We have decided in which direction we will be moving. The next five-year plan will be dedicated to the Native Land theme. We need to develop the regions, make living conditions in agro-towns similar to those in Minsk, and make people want to live in agro-towns rather than in Minsk,” said the president.

BelTA.