Angelika Nikitina spoke about how the economy of the Vitebsk region performed in 2024 and the tasks for 2025
– The plan for budget revenue has been overfulfilled, and the population's income is growing, which once again confirms the economic growth of the Vitebsk region, – emphasized the Deputy Chairperson. – We have managed to reduce the gap compared to other regions and Minsk in terms of average monthly salary and the number of people employed in the economy.
The investment potential of the region is strengthening. Last year, our efforts were focused on increasing investments in the real sector of the economy to 3.8 billion rubles, modernizing existing and creating new production facilities, and developing small and medium-sized businesses. For 2025, we are setting tasks to increase investment volumes to 4.5 billion rubles, implement projects aimed at creating high-tech industries and further modernizing the public sector, and developing business in the regions. Industry, agriculture, tourism, and logistics remain the drivers. There are Chinese, Turkish, Czech, and Iranian investors in the Vitebsk region. We would like domestic investors – our compatriots – to become more actively involved in the regions and develop their businesses in their homeland.
Since the beginning of the five-year plan, 160 new industrial enterprises have been opened in the Vitebsk region, creating 2,400 jobs. Within the framework of the "One District – One Project" initiative, 13 projects have been implemented, including the organization of a poultry meat cutting and packaging workshop in Shumilino (Vitebsk Confectionery Factory LLC), construction materials in the Lepel district (CSK LLC), perfumery products in the Dokshitsy district (Cosmoinvest LLC), construction of plants for the production of innovative equipment in Vitebsk (Vitebskstroymash UP), for the production of oils, lubricants and special fluids in Glubokoe (SCANLINK LLC), creation of garment production in the Dokshitsy district (Dokshitsy Sewing Manufactory LLC). In 2025, we plan to complete another 15 projects.
According to Anzhelika Nikitina, the industrial structure in our region is well-organized, and all its main sectors are developing.
The food industry is the backbone, showing growth in 2024, and its future development will focus on increasing the output of deeply processed products with high added value.
Our light industry products are in demand among Belarusian and foreign buyers, accounting for a quarter of the republican volume in this sector. The "Da Domu", "Belarusian Linen", and "Vitebsk Carpets" stores have long become brands not only of the Vitebsk region but also of the Republic of Belarus.
The metallurgical industry, machine tool and machine-building sectors are promising. Within the framework of the Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, 3 integration investment projects are being implemented using Russian financial credit: at the VISTAN and Krasny Borets enterprises – the "Soyuzny Stank" integration projects; in Orsha, on the premises of the Pak plant – a project for the organization of a ring rolling production.
The plans include a number of projects in woodworking and instrument engineering.
– We are focusing on the high-tech development of pharmaceuticals. Considering the current competencies of the Vitebsk region – pharmaceutical clusters, the training of biotechnologists and specialists in IT medicine by universities in the region, the new plant at Belvitunipharma, the implementation of the "Industry 4.0" concept project at Belkarolin, and new projects for "VIK – Animal Health" – emphasized the Deputy Chairperson.
The Vitebsk region actively cooperates with the Russian Federation. The regional executive committee has concluded about 30 agreements with Russian regions, and more than 160 agreements have been signed between the regions of Vitebsk and Russia. Industrial enterprises work in close cooperation.
For example, Polimerkonstruktsiya installs de-ironing stations in 30 regions of Russia.
Cooperation has been established in education and cross-border tourism. For instance, a tourist route Minsk – Brest via Smolensk and Vitebsk is being developed.
Cooperation has been established with Iran, Iraq, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. Egypt, Libya, and African countries are also promising destinations for the northern region of Belarus.
– Products of the food and light industries, as well as machine tool and machine-building, and pharmaceuticals are in high demand among foreign partners, – explained Anzhelika Nikitina.
By the way, Anzhelika Nikitina's favorite products are Mi-Shu cheese curds from the Polotsk Dairy Plant, confectionery products from Vitba, and new products from the Vitebsk Broiler Poultry Factory.
– I always buy Vitebsk Borodinsky bread, dairy products, and Glubokoe condensed milk, – noted the Deputy Chairperson. – I wear shoes and clothes from our Vitebsk enterprises: Marko, Belvest, and the Vitebsk Fur Factory. In my opinion, the products of all Vitebsk enterprises are of high quality. Those who try them once will become regular customers and connoisseurs of their quality. I am sure, for example, that branded products from the Orsha Linen Mill, from kitchen towels to bed linen, are in every home.
In 2024, the "Quality Mark" was awarded to JSC Vityaz, Orsha Linen Mill, and Vitebskhlebprom.