Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

Due to the complicated epidemic situation and climbing coronavirus infection rates in a number of countries Belarus' Customs will continue taking preventive measures at the border in order to prevent the infection from reaching the country, BelTA learned from Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus Yuri Senko.

The official commented on mass media reports about the Belarusian customs service allegedly cracking down on merchandise import by individuals. “The customs service fulfils all the sanitary norms a pandemic requires. Including in order to prevent the transportation of goods that can somehow influence the safety of people,” Yuri Senko explained. This is why the rules that allow natural persons to transport goods across the border that only they will use are in effect. “If they are intended for commerce, then we need the owner to pay the customs duty or the citizen can return with the goods or the goods can be put in storage. It is up to the citizens,” the official clarified. “Tougher rules have been enforced in many countries. For instance, you cannot import one sandwich into the European Union, they will force you to throw it away into a special container. So, every country protects its import, safety, and order. It is a mandatory condition.”

According to Yuri Senko, the restrictions primarily apply to food. “The goods on which various diseases and infections can be transported. Because not every piece of merchandise is disinfected at the border,” he noted.

The practice of monitoring the transportation of merchandise and the movement of heavy trucks using navigation devices (seals) continues in Belarus. The new practice makes drivers more disciplined. In the past the customs service detected over 30 various violations committed by truck drivers per day. The number does not exceed one per day after digital navigation devices (seals) were introduced.

Belarus' Customs expanded the use of these devices in August 2020. They are now used as an alternative to customs escort for expensive cargoes among other things. It allows reducing the relevant costs of shipping companies by ten times on the average. A customs escort to the Belarusian-Russian border costs about $300 while the use of a navigation seal costs as little as $30.

Belarus should make the best possible use of its renewable forest resources, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he heard out a report on the development of the country's woodworking, pulp and paper industries on 6 October, BelTA has learned.

“Today I would like to hear answers to a number of questions regarding the implementation of my instructions,” the president said at the beginning of the meeting.

According to the head of state, the woodworking industry is the most important and strategic one for the national economy. “Having considerable reserves of renewable forest resources, we need to ensure their rational use with maximum effect. We have made decisions to get all the added value here, at our enterprises. This issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible. A lot has been done for that,” he said.

The president said that the major woodworking enterprises had been upgraded. Projects in the pulp and paper industry are currently under implementation. Considerable financial resources have been injected in this area, he said.

“It should be noted that the invested funds work. The staff have been preserved at the enterprises, which would not exist today if not for modernization. Thousands of new jobs have been created. The volumes of timber processing and the export of high value-added products have been increased several times. As for the export, the media reports provide the figure of 75% of the output. This is a good thing. Other important things include the price for these products and the efficiency of production, i.e. profitability,” the head of state said.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the industry shows a confident growth in general. The government pays the closest attention to the sector, with top officials being coordinators of its most important projects.

The most problematic investment projects were considered at the meeting hosted by the president in late 2019. These were the plants producing base paper in Shklov, coated and uncoated cardboard in Dobrush and bleached sulphate pulp in Svetlogorsk. Then, decisions were made on the implementation and completion of the projects.

“I would like to hear answers to the following questions. First, what is the general situation in the woodworking industry: export, financing, enterprises' performance, salaries. Has the coronavirus epidemic affected the industry?” asked the president. According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, in January-August 2020 Bellesbumprom's industrial output exceeded the last year's figures by about 2.5-3%. The export figures were higher, as well.

“The second question: what is the progress in the implementation of the most important investment projects? We have made decisions on Svetlogorsk, Dobrush and Shklov. Are these projects on schedule? Question number three: what prospects are there for the construction of paper and packaging facilities? We have discussed it with you already. Here are the reforms - we need to develop manufacturing based on forest resources,” the head of state stressed.

According to Bellesbumprom, the role of the forest sector in the Belarusian economy has increased significantly following the upgrade of basic woodworking and pulp and paper enterprises. The wood processing volume in the country considerably increased to exceed 20 million cubic meters in 2019.

Modernization of panel factories made it possible to put low-grade timber into use. The total volume of its consumption will reach 5.2 million cubic meters in 2020. Thanks to the development of bioenergy processing plants for fuel pellets, a total of 2.8 million cubic meters of hardwood will be additionally used by 2025.

Commissioning of the modernized woodworking complexes has significantly expanded the opportunities for furniture manufacturers. Companies began using domestic materials such as wood boards to produce economical and in-demand furniture. Over the past five years, the number of furniture manufacturers has doubled. Today there are over 1,300 of them in the country.

Bellesbumprom enterprises are engaged in deep processing of wood to produce high value-added products, more than 70% of which is supplied to foreign markets. This year, despite the difficult situation due to the coronavirus pandemic, Bellesbumprom's enterprises managed to maintain a stable production and sales level. In January-August, enterprises exported $377.9 million worth of products.

Belarus' healthcare system is ready for the second wave of COVID-19, Aleksandr Patseev the head of the main department of healthcare organization at the healthcare Ministry, told reporters in Minsk on 5 October, BelTA has learned.

“Recently, we have seen an increase in the incidence of the disease. Now we can say that this is the second wave. We see a similar picture in other countries of Europe and the world,” Aleksandr Patseev said.

According to him, Belarus' healthcare system is ready for the second wave of COVID-19. "We have tried and tested the entire system, worked outs all algorithms for providing medical assistance. The system has proven to be effective. We have clear separations of patient flows by the severity of the disease. The bed space is enough. The situation with oxygen points has improved considerably over the past few months. The healthcare system as a whole is ready for work,” Aleksandr Patseev noted.

Belarus Presid

“First of all, I want you to tell me about the performance of your agency. It will be useful for the assessment of the situation in our economy through the prism of customs services. You realize that the customs service is, more than any other agencies, a mirror of our economy. Are there any bottlenecks? How are we developing in these complicated conditions, first of all, involving the pandemic? In your opinion, what shall we do to keep the economy stable this year?” Aleksandr Lukashenko wondered.

The president also asked about the situation on the borders with Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Ukraine. “I am especially curious about two Baltic states – Lithuania and Latvia. As you inform me, almost 40% of freight vehicles come from Lithuania and Latvia this year. This is a huge volume. If we take on this flow, logistics hubs of Lithuania will underperform by nearly a quarter,” the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said that Belarus and Russia were mulling over the relocation of Belarusian cargos (oil products, potash fertilizers and other goods) from Baltic ports to the Ust-Luga port. “What is the State Customs Committee thinking about the relocation of these cargos? What will it mean for our logistics centers? We have strong logistics centers. Many services, including for or economic operators and subjects of the EAEU countries are provided in Lithuania. But, as far as I know, we can provide these services to these freight carriers in Belarus. What do you think about it?” he asked.

Yuri Senko informed the president about the foreign trade statistics. In his words, 71 million tonnes of goods were transported through the Belarusian customs border with Baltic countries, Poland and Ukraine. This volume is 15% lower than in the same period of 2019. “Russia also influenced that, as its export of oil products to Western Europe fell by 30%. Our export and import fell by only 10%,” the chairman of the State Customs Committee said. “This is mostly railway transport. The situation at automobile border checkpoints has not almost changed, only at the beginning of the pandemic when the consumer capacity in Europe and the EAEU countries reduced. But all routes are being restored now.”

On contribution to Belarus' national budget

In January-September, the Belarusian national budget received Br6.1 billion worth of payments supervised by the State Customs Committee. The inflow fell by almost 8% from the same period of 2019. One of the reasons, according to the State Customs Committee, is the Russian tax maneuver. The decrease is largely attributed to export customs duties. If we exclude this position from calculations, we will find out that the revenues to the budget went up 5.3%, or Br230 million.

On law enforcement

This year customs services have already detected 210 crimes. These include 79 drugs trafficking attempts. Customs officers withdrew 95kg of drugs and 19,000 pills containing narcotic and psychotropic substances. Besides, the Belarusian customs services detected 73 economic crimes which incurred almost Br13.5 million of losses.

Law enforcement bodies opened three criminal cases involving the transportation of weapons, ammunition and objects of export control (parts of magazines for firing and hunting rifles, other weapons).

Customs bodies also detected 11 crimes involving money trafficking. Customs officers withdrew Br2.7 million in the equivalent from administrative law violators and offenders.

On customs infrastructure development

This year major funds have been allocated for the renovation of two border checkpoints Verkhny Terebezhov and Urbany. As of September, these projects were 70% and 92.6% complete.

According to the State Customs Committee, the modernization of these border checkpoints will allow increasing their daily throughput capacity by 1,375 cars.

Dear teachers, professors, educators, all educational workers of Minsk Oblast!

I sincerely congratulate you on your professional holiday - Teacher's Day!

A teacher is not only a profession, but also an honorable mission. After all, for each of your students you are a senior comrade, mentor and, along with your parents, a close person to whom you can always turn for kind advice and emotional support.

With your daily work, responsiveness and dedication, you set an example for children and adolescents, help them discover their abilities and talents, and find their purpose in life. And by developing the intellectual potential of schoolchildren, you are actually creating the future of our society.

The teaching staff of the Minsk region has always been distinguished by a high level of professionalism. And this is natural. Indeed, it is based on teachers, teachers and educators with an active civic position, devoted to their work and faithful to their duty. People who skillfully combine traditional approaches in teaching and are always open to innovations.

Thanks to you, dear teachers, more than one generation of creative and purposeful citizens has grown up in our region, who have become excellent parents, patriots of their country, real professionals in their chosen business. And today's schoolchildren demonstrate bright successes at international, republican competitions and olympiads, creative and sports competitions. This is your indisputable merit and contribution to the development of the central region and the whole of Belarus.

Dear teachers, industry veterans! Low bow to you for your work, patience, wisdom and selfless love for children. We value each of you very much and will do our best to ensure that the teaching profession always remains one of the most respected and honorable in our society.

I wish you all good health, peace and harmony. May students always meet your best expectations! And life presents only good surprises and allows you to always be on the wave of optimism, inspiration and happiness!

The Belarusian government projects GDP to increase by 1.8% in 2021, Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said at a meeting of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers held on 1 October to discuss the country's draft social and economic development forecast, the monetary policy guidelines and the national budget for 2021, BelTA has learned.

“According to estimates, next year's economic growth is projected at 1.8%, and we plan to keep the current year's GDP at the level of 2019. Many developed countries are planning to reach the pre-crisis level only in 2022,” said Roman Golovchenko.

The government began working on the package of economic documents for 2021 three months ago. According to the prime minister, over the past few weeks there have been significant changes in the assessment of the development of the world economy, Belarus' trade partner countries, prices for marketable goods, exchange rates, which remain high volatile.

Roman Golovchenko said that the key parameters of government efficiency to be set by the head of state should reflect not the process, but the goal, which is to improve the living standards and quality of life. “The task is to work on reducing costs, increasing productivity and other quality indicators,” he explained.

The head of government added that the forecast for 2021 should be as realistic as possible, take into account the resource capacity of the economy, and rely on accurate external and internal conditions.

According to the draft documents, economic efficiency and profit will be among the integrated performance indicators of the vertical power structure. Roman Golovchenko asked the Economy Ministry to voice its position in favor of the chosen approaches, including the proposed new system of indicators.

We appreciate the activities and investments of Emaar Properties in our country, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Chairman of Emaar Properties Mohamed Alabbar on 1 October, BelTA informs.

“First of all, I appreciate your punctuality and commitment. When we met about a year ago, we agreed on our joint work. Back then we conceived a number of projects, which you were interested in and were ready to implement in Belarus, ranging from agriculture to the construction of large infrastructure objects,” the head of state said. “We agreed to meet this autumn after the presidential election to finally dot the i's. That is why I am grateful to you for being so punctual and for coming exactly on this day.”

“We understand that the time is complicated worldwide. The era has posed many challenges to the mankind. Tough competition for investors is in full swing. And, of course, your work in Belarus and the investments which you are mulling over are very important for us,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

In his words, a lot of work is still ahead. “Therefore, the today's meeting has brought together so many high-ranking officials [on Belarus' behalf the meeting was also attended by the prime minister, the chairman of the Minsk City Hall, the president's aide for national security],” the head of state said.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, he remembers Mohamed Alabbar's promise to erect the most beautiful buildings and facilities in Belarus which will become the UAE's trademarks in the center of Europe. “Therefore, I am ready to discuss all pending issues today. If there are any issues, we need to solve them promptly,” the president said.

Mohamed Alabbar is the co-owner of large international companies specializing in investment, real estate, hospitality business, e-commerce, logistics, public catering, fashion, design and other fields. His business has branched out into more than 50 countries. He is a developer of the concept of modern Dubai, a key advisor on economic and investment issues of the leaders of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Emaar Properties is one of the world's most valuable and admired real estate development companies. It operates more than 60 affiliated companies and is present on the markets of the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. It specializes in hospitality business, trade and entertainment infrastructure, commercial rent, IT development and other services for business, investment and real estate. The biggest construction projects of Dubai, including the tallest structure and building in the world Burj Khalifa and one of the largest shopping centers Dubai Mall, were implemented by Emaar Properties. Another ambitious project is the King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia. The project is estimated to cover 168 square kilometers. It includes a seaport, an industrial zone, business, recreation and apartment zones, educational and healthcare facilities, retail facilities.

Previously, Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Mohamed Alabbar in Minsk on November 2019 to discuss promising investment projects. In particular, they discussed prospects of work in hospitality business, agricultural and industrial projects. Belarus is interested in the development of projects in the real production sector with the United Arab Emirates.

A presentation of the Belarusian-Russian movement Rzhev Initiative took place in the Victory Museum in Moscow on 1 October, TASS reports.

The Rzhev Initiative is supposed to offer a platform for uniting initiative groups from Belarus and Russia and for implementing joint projects in various fields. Participants of the event admitted they had been inspired by the Rzhev Memorial to the Soviet Soldier, which is a vivid example of cooperation between peoples of Belarus and Russia under the aegis of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. Participants of the presentation said that they would like to continue exploring the potential of bilateral relations by supporting civic initiatives.

“We need grassroots diplomacy. People should talk to each other. We can help with genuine internal human replenishment of these relations and we will try to do just that,” said Vladimir Mamontov, Director General of the radio station Govorit Moskva, one of the organizers of the movement.

The Rzhev Initiative founders are the Belarusian-Russian community of reporters Druzya-Syabry [friends in Russian and in Belarusian], the Victory Museum, the Foreign Policy Studies Association named after Andrei Gromyko, the Belaya Rus association, and the Russian movement of volunteers that searches battlefields for fallen soldiers in order to immortalize memory of them. During the presentation their representatives noted that the movement is open to all concerned citizens and the organizers will welcome any ideas.

State Secretary of the Union State of Belarus and Russia Grigory Rapota addressed participants of the presentation in a telegram: “Our time requires the development of a dialogue, the establishment of tighter ties, and at last the inclusion of young people into the integration process. Young people should choose in favor of the Union State of Belarus and Russia deliberately once they understand what prospects our common way of development of our two countries opens up. Young people are interested in working together, rich opportunities for self-realization, social mobility instead of nostalgia and historic traditions.”

Appeals for unity of the two countries bearing in mind political shocks after the presidential election in Belarus were the keynote idea of the presentation. Representatives of the Belarusian side and the Russian one mentioned the special significance of the Union State of Belarus and Russia and the importance of preserving tight ties between citizens. Rzhev Initiative projects are supposed to provide a positive impulse to cooperation of the peoples of Belarus and Russia and attract their attention to the common potential not only during crisis times.

The vaccination of volunteers with the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V as part of a double blind randomized placebo-controlled study has begun in Belarus, BelTA has learned.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has delivered the first batch of the Russian vaccine to Belarus for clinical trials. The fund finances the clinical trials in Belarus. One hundred people are supposed to take part in the trials. The vaccine was developed by the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after Honorary Academician N.F. Gamaleya of the Russian Healthcare Ministry.

According to Sergei Chernyak, a clinical trials specialist with the Russian company IPHARMA, all the 100 volunteers have already been selected. The trials require relatively healthy men and women aged 18-60. They may have some chronic diseases out of the exacerbation phase. The medics monitor the health of the volunteers after the injection in order to track any reactions.

The volunteer may be free to go one hour after the injection. “Just like with flu vaccination people may experience a slightly higher body temperature or some local hyperthermic reactions,” the specialist added.

The first two volunteers were vaccinated in Minsk city clinic No.28 on 1 October. Andrei Metlitsky will join them within the next few days. The man said he had learned about the trials from mass media and had found all the necessary information on the Healthcare Ministry website. “I want me and people around me to be safe. I always get vaccinated. I don't really get sick. But I would like this infection to miss me and my family,” he said.

The clinic's Head Physician Larisa Kazak stressed that the clinic is compliant with international requirements and is properly certified. Clinical trials of various medications have been performed here for years. “We hope these clinical trials will be a success and the international community will get an effective solution for fighting this dangerous infection,” she added.

Belarus is the first country to begin clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine after it was registered in Russia. The trials will take place in eight healthcare institutions in Belarus, which have been chosen as research centers. Two Belarusian clinics have already received the first batch of the Sputnik V vaccine.

The cooperation between Belarus and Russia is beneficial for both countries, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Governor of Russia's Bryansk Oblast Aleksandr Bogomaz on 30 September, BelTA informs.

First of all, Aleksandr Lukashenko congratulated Aleksandr Bogomaz on the recent election as the governor of Bryansk Oblast. “I congratulate you on this achievement, you truly deserve this victory. You have recently made revolutionary progress in various fields – in the development of the region, in the gross regional product. This is a deserved victory. We are very happy for you. You are a decent man, people appreciated your work and re-elected you as the Bryansk Oblast governor,” the president said.

The head of state remarked that the 7th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia had finished its work the day before. During the forum the sides summed up achievements and determined development prospects. The forum was even more productive than the previous ones, the president believes. The sides concluded agreements to the tune of more than $750 million. “This is a good contribution to the economy of Belarus. And it is significant for Russia,” Aleksandr Lukashenko believes. “It is also essential to keep in mind the future impact of these contacts. They will give jobs and salaries to our people. This is what we lack in cooperation with other countries. It is good that in these conditions, amid the coronavirus spread and the aggravation of the international situation (you see what is going on around us) we have ultimately found ways for rapprochements and interaction which brings tangible economic benefits.”

Speaking about the regional cooperation with Bryansk Oblast, the president said that this is not only a neighboring region for Belarus but also a very friendly region. “We think and act in a similar way, we have similar economies. There will always be nuances, but we are fully committed to resolving them. I think that your visit to Belarus will help address these nuances,” he stressed.

As for the bilateral trade, the head described it as decent. “But I think that if we do our best, we will be able to reach the trade turnover of Belarus and Bryansk Oblast to 1 billion in the second half of your tenure,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The trade and economic cooperation of Belarus and Bryansk Oblast is increasingly vibrant. In 2019, the bilateral trade made up $650.7 million, including $411 million worth of export. In January-July 2020, the trade turnover reached $353.4 million, including $245.6 million worth of export (up 9.3% from the level of the previous year).

Major Belarusian exports to Bryansk Oblast are dairy products, agricultural, road and construction equipment, details for the railway industry, construction materials. Major imports from Bryansk Oblast are ferrous metals, cement, soya beans, paper and cardboard, various industrial and agricultural products.

There are assembly facilities of Belarusian enterprises Amkodor-Bryansk and Bryanskselmash; operators of the commodity distribution network of Mozyrsol and Milkavita; an official dealer of the Belarusian tapestry manufacturer Belorusskiye Oboi; a network of Belarusian enterprises Vitex, Belita, Milavitsa, Belwest and Nelva in the Russian region.