Miory Regional Executive Committee
By the end of 2024, the economy of the Vitebsk Region demonstrated dynamic development, with growth recorded in almost all key sectors: agriculture, manufacturing, retail trade, public catering, and construction. Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Angelika Nikitina told a correspondent of "VV".
“The budget revenue plan has been overfulfilled, and household incomes are growing, which once again confirms the growth of the Vitebsk economy,” the deputy chairman emphasized. “We have managed to narrow the gap compared to other regions and Minsk in terms of average monthly salary levels and the number of people employed in the economy.”
The investment potential of the region is strengthening. Last year, our efforts were directed toward increasing investments in the real sector of the economy to 3.8 billion rubles, modernizing existing facilities and creating new production sites, and developing small and medium-sized businesses. For 2025, we have set targets to increase investment volumes to 4.5 billion rubles, implement projects aimed at establishing high-tech production facilities and further modernizing the state sector, and foster business development across the regions. Industry, agriculture, tourism, and logistics remain the key drivers. The Vitebsk Region already hosts Chinese, Turkish, Czech, and Iranian investors. We hope that domestic investors—our fellow countrymen—will more actively invest in the regions and develop their businesses in their homeland.
Since the beginning of the five-year plan period, 160 new manufacturing enterprises have been opened in the Vitebsk Region, creating 2,400 jobs. Under the initiative of the "One District – One Project" program, 13 projects have been implemented, including the establishment of a poultry meat processing and packaging workshop in Shumilino (VITKONPRODUKT LLC), construction materials in the Lepel district (TSK LLC), perfume products in the Dokshitsy district (KOSMOINVEST LLC), construction of plants for producing innovative equipment in Vitebsk (Unitary Enterprise "VITSTROYTECHMASH"), production of oils, lubricants and special fluids in Glubokoe (SKANLINK LLC), and creation of a garment manufacturing facility in the Dokshitsy district (DOKSHITSY SEWING MANUFACTURE 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 value-forming sector is food processing, which showed growth in 2024, and its future development will be focused on increasing the output of deeply processed products with high added value.
Our light industry products are in demand among both domestic and foreign buyers, accounting for a quarter of the national volume in this sector. The stores "Da domu", "Belarusian Linen", and "Vitebsk Carpets" have long become brands not only of the Vitebsk Region but also of the Republic of Belarus.
Promising sectors include metallurgy, machine-tool and mechanical engineering. Under the Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, three integration investment projects are being implemented using Russian financial credits: at the "VISTAN" and "Krasny Borets" enterprises – the "Union Machine Tool" integration project; in Orsha, at the facilities of the "PAK" plant – a project for organizing ring rolling production.
The plans include a number of projects in wood processing and instrument manufacturing.
– We are focusing on the high-tech development of the pharmaceutical industry. Taking into account the modern competencies of the Vitebsk region – pharmaceutical clusters, training of biotechnologists by regional universities, specialists in IT medicine, the new plant at Belvitufarma, the implementation of the 'Industry 4.0' concept project at Belkaroline, and the new 'VIK – Animal Health' projects – emphasized the Deputy Chairman.
The Vitebsk Region actively cooperates with the Russian Federation. At the level of the Regional Executive Committee, approximately 30 agreements have been concluded with Russian regions, and over 160 – between regions of the Vitebsk Region and Russia. Industrial enterprises operate in close cooperation.
For example, Polimerkonstruktsiya installs iron removal 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.
Work has been established with Iran, Iraq, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. Egypt, Libya, and African countries are also considered promising directions for the northern region of Belarus.
– Products of the food and light industries, as well as machine-tool and mechanical engineering, and pharmaceuticals, enjoy particular demand among foreign partners, – explained Angelika Nikitina.
By the way, Angelika Nikitina’s favorite products are the 'Mi-Shu' cheese curds from the Polotsk Dairy Plant, confectionery from 'Vityba', and new products from the Vitebsk Broiler Poultry Farm.
– I always buy Vitebsk 'Borodinsky' bread, dairy products, and Glubokoye condensed milk, – noted the Deputy Chairman. – I wear footwear and clothing from our local Vitebsk enterprises: 'Marko', 'Belvest', and the Vitebsk Fur Combine. In my opinion, the products of all Vitebsk enterprises are of high quality. Anyone who tries it once will become a regular customer and an appreciator of its quality. I am convinced, for example, that branded products from the Orsha Flax Mill, ranging from kitchen towels to bed linen, can be found in every home.
The recipients of the 'Quality Mark' in 2024 were JSC 'Vityaz', 'Orsha Flax Mill', and 'Vitebskhlebprom'.