Territories falling under the decree on the development of trade and public catering have been approved in the Vitebsk region

The list of settlements and territories falling under Decree No. 345 "On the Development of Trade, Public Catering, and Household Services" has been approved in the Vitebsk region. This decision was made by the deputies of the Vitebsk Regional Council at an extraordinary session.

Taking into account the specifics of the Vitebsk region, the list includes all rural settlements of the Vitebsk region (except for those with no residents), small urban settlements, and territories outside settlements. Thus, individual entrepreneurs and certain categories of legal entities operating in these territories will be able to take advantage of the preferences and benefits provided by the decree from January 1, 2018.

According to Irina Levkovich, Head of the Main Department of Trade and Services of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, there are over 6,000 rural settlements in the Vitebsk region, of which 5,000 have a population of up to 100 people. At the same time, 2.3 thousand are villages and hamlets with fewer than 10 residents. In recent years, the region has seen a reduction in the network of rural comprehensive service points, as well as the number of trade, public catering, and household service facilities in rural areas. "While a city dweller has the opportunity to choose the format of a facility and the range of goods and services that meet their needs, this is not the case in rural areas. Serving the population of small towns and rural settlements requires qualitatively new approaches," emphasized Irina Levkovich.

She expressed confidence that the decision made by the deputies today will contribute to stimulating entrepreneurial initiative, improving trade and household services for the population, as well as reducing the tax burden on legal entities and individual entrepreneurs engaged in retail trade, public catering, and household services in rural areas. Decree No. 345 of September 22, 2017 "On the Development of Trade, Public Catering, and Household Services," aimed at creating favorable conditions for organizing and conducting business.

business, clearly defines that the benefits will apply to settlements and territories outside settlements, determined by decisions of regional Councils of Deputies. By decision of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies an exhaustive list of such settlements and territories has been approved.

BELTA.