Deputies of the Vitebsk Oblast Council approved the Vitebsk Oblast budget and the Investment Program.

The results of the main parameters of the socio-economic development of the region for five years and in 2025 were reviewed at the 21st session of the regional Council of Deputies of the 29th convocation. The deputies also approved the regional budget and endorsed the Investment Program for 2026.

Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin noted that the past five-year period was a time of radical changes in the foreign economic situation, forming a new global reality. Enterprises in the region had to seek alternative paths: from raw material supplies to marketing strategy, negotiate with new partners, build new logistics, and optimize tasks to maintain competitiveness in both external and internal markets.

– The region is completing 2025 with positive dynamics in the construction and transport sectors, retail trade and public catering, and export of services, – emphasized Alexander Subbotin. – This year, key performance indicators for salary, total budget revenues, investments, housing commissioning, and import-substituting product manufacturing have been met.

According to the National Statistical Committee, Vitebsk region entered the top three leaders in achieving sustainable development goals (significant progress and high results were achieved for 79% of the analyzed indicators).

At the end of the five-year period, it was possible to neutralize negative dynamics and ensure growth in key parameters of regional development: gross regional product, industrial production volumes excluding oil refining and energy, livestock production, retail and wholesale trade, public catering, passenger turnover, investments, and export of goods and services.

In the real sector of the economy, more than
190 investment projects were implemented, a third of which were in small and medium-sized settlements. Approximately 2.5 thousand new jobs were created.

The contribution of small and medium-sized businesses to the region's economy is growing every year, employing about 30% of the total workforce.

The infrastructure for entrepreneurship support is developing.

A new incubator has opened in Vitebsk, the Orsha incubator has expanded its premises, and the number of incubator residents has increased 1.5 times over the five-year period.

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 Braslav district, food flavorings in Beshenkovichi, lubricating oils in Glubokoye district, perfumery and sewing products in Dokshitsy district, and others.

Products with the Vitebsk brand are supplied to 70 countries worldwide. The main trading partner of the region remains the Russian Federation. Over the five-year period, 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 explored. Supplies of goods to Iran, Iraq, and India have increased significantly.

Over the five-year period, more than 1.6 million square meters of housing were commissioned, and this year the volume of housing construction became a record for the region in the last 10 years – 400 thousand square meters.

Annually, more than 2 thousand families improve their living conditions.

Transport and the social sphere actively developed.

In the near future, a five-year program for the socio-economic development of the Pridvinye region will be adopted, which will define key tasks, development directions, and growth points for 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. Among them are the creation of a modern import-substituting production of medical and veterinary drugs at OAO "Belvitunifarm," the construction of a cellulose production plant in Novopolotsk, a cross-laminated timber panel production plant in Tolochin district, and others.

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

From 2026, approaches to housing construction will change: the priority will be the construction of rental housing in the regions in conjunction with the creation of new enterprises and productions, 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 capital and routine repairs of more than 5 thousand km of republican and local roads, and reconstruct 6 bridge structures.

The construction of a kindergarten in Lepel and the 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 orphanages.

The construction of a new polyclinic in Polotsk and the reconstruction of the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Hospital will be completed, and an inter-district center for medical care based at the Glubokoye Central District Hospital will open.