Belarusian government approves Ecology state program for 2026-2030

The results of the socio-economic development of the region over the past five years and for 2025 were reviewed at the 21st session of the Regional Council of Deputies of the 29th convocation. Deputies also approved the regional budget and adopted the Investment Program for 2026.

Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin noted that the outgoing five-year period was a time of fundamental changes in the foreign economic environment and the formation of a new global reality. The region's enterprises had to find alternative solutions, from raw material supplies to marketing strategies, negotiate with new partners, build new logistics, and optimize tasks to maintain competitiveness in both foreign and domestic markets.

– The region is concluding 2025 with positive dynamics in the construction and transport sectors, retail trade and public catering, and export of services, – emphasized Alexander Subbotin. – Key performance indicators of the task matrix for wages, aggregate budget revenues, investments, housing commissioning, and production of import-substituting products have been met this year.

According to the National Statistical Committee's assessment, the Vitebsk region is among the top three leaders in achieving sustainable development goals (significant progress and high results have been achieved for 79% of the analyzed indicators).

As a result of the five-year period, it was possible to offset negative trends and ensure growth in key parameters

35 projects have been formed within the framework of the Head of State's instruction "One District – One Project", 18 of which have already been completed, creating 485 new jobs. These include the production of electrical products in the Braslav district, food flavorings in Beshenkovichi, lubricating oils in Gluboksky, perfumery and garment products in Dokshitsky districts, and others.

Products with the Vitebsk brand are supplied to 70 countries worldwide. The Russian Federation remains the main trading partner of the region. Over the past five years, supplies to China have doubled, and markets in Africa (Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, South Africa) are being actively developed. Trade turnover with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan has increased.

Markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia are being developed. Supplies of goods to Iran, Iraq, and India have increased manifold.

Over the past five years, more than 1.6 million square meters of housing have been commissioned, and in the current year, the volume of housing construction has reached a record high for the region in the last 10 years – 400 thousand square meters.

Annually, more than 2,000 families improve their housing conditions.

Transport and the social sphere have been actively developing.

In the near future, a five-year Program for the Socio-Economic Development of the Pridvinye region will be adopted, which will define the key tasks, development directions, and growth points of the region: industry, agriculture, tourism, and transport and logistics services. A "pool" of over 450 projects has been formed for the five-year period, and their funding sources are being worked out. These include the creation of a modern import-substituting production of medical and veterinary drugs based on OJSC "Belvitunipharm", the construction of a pulp production plant in Novopolotsk, and a cross-laminated timber panel production plant in the Tolochinsky district, among others.

The five-year plan includes the construction of modern dairy complexes, modernization of the poultry industry, and the implementation of greenhouse construction projects (a joint venture with a Chinese investor has already been registered in the Orshansky district).

Starting from 2026, approaches to housing construction will change: priority will be given to the construction of rental housing in the regions in conjunction with the creation of new enterprises and industries, and an increase in the volume of individual housing construction and state-ordered housing.

It is planned to commission at least 1.2 million square meters of housing, ensure the capital and current repairs of more than 5,000 km of republican and local roads, and reconstruct 6 bridge structures.

Construction of a kindergarten in Lepel and reconstruction of Gymnasium No. 1 in Vitebsk will be completed.

New social facilities will appear on the region's map: kindergartens in Polotsk and the Bilevo microdistrict of Vitebsk, schools in Vitebsk and Novopolotsk, and 4 family-type children's homes.

Construction of a new polyclinic in Polotsk and reconstruction of the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Hospital will be completed, and an inter-district medical care center will be opened on the basis of the Glubokoye Central District Hospital.

Introducing the draft budget of the region for 2026 to the deputies, the head of the main financial department of the regional executive committee, Yevgeny Korostik, noted that the main financial document has a pronounced social orientation: 62 percent of the funds are planned for the development of the social sphere. It is forecasted that the region's expenses will increase by 6% in 2026, with the social sector increasing by 12%. More than half of the funds for the social sector will go to the education and healthcare sectors: for labor remuneration, fulfillment of state standards, along with financing the current maintenance of the material and technical base, and the acquisition of new equipment. The most important direction of the budget policy for 2026 will be to increase the level of labor remuneration for employees of budget organizations.

Local budget expenditures on physical culture and sports, culture, and transport will increase.

Funds are provided for road repairs, and the purchase of 2 trams, 17 trolleybuses, and 81 buses is planned.

The presented Investment Program for the Development of the Region is designed for three years and provides for the financing of construction of facilities, including design and survey work, as well as financing