The One District, One Project initiative is a strategic task for regional development, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting to discuss the implementation of investment projects under the initiative in Minsk on 30 April, BelTA has learned.
The head of state noted that this meeting serves as a concluding event following recent regional working trips and the review of key regional programs, including the development of the Pripyat Polesie region and southeastern part of Mogilev Oblast, land reclamation, and the reintegration of agricultural lands into production. Previously, Vitebsk Oblast was also discussed, with a focus on the measures needed to boost development in the country’s northern region.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that he is considering making regional development a key aspect of the prime minister’s report at the next Belarusian People’s Congress at the end of 2026. “This is important for the people. It is essential that these topics are not merely outlined in the highest representative body, but given serious resonance,” he said.
On relevance of initiative
Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out that many of the country’s 118 districts are facing population outflow, particularly in rural areas. Surveys show that the top priority for regional residents is the availability of jobs with decent salaries, followed by issues such as pricing, leisure activities, housing and utility services, and so on.
“That is precisely why the One District, One Project initiative was introduced during the previous five-year period, with the expectation that it would create quality jobs offering decent salaries,” the president said.
The head of state noted that while there have been certain positive results, a number of shortcomings and instances of misreporting have come to light, along with unproductive monitoring and control activities.
The president emphasized that in today’s realities, the tasks within the initiative must be viewed from a new perspective. The creation of jobs per se is no longer the most important task. “It is crucial for us now to build enterprises whose products will be in demand not only domestically but also in foreign markets, and to sell them with high profit margins. This is the most vital issue for us today. But we must act quickly,” the head of state stressed.
“Take the current situation into account. I want the governors and the government to review these projects once again. Determine what needs completion and where additional funding should be directed. Create projects focused on import substitution and supplying the domestic market. We must produce our own goods,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
On the positive effect
On the one hand, as the government reports to the head of state, the One District, One Project initiative has proven to be beneficial. Two-thirds of the planned projects have been completed (144 out of 217), with approximately Br3.5 billion invested and over 6,000 jobs created. Once the current plans are finalized, these figures are expected to double.
The initiative encompasses both state-owned and private enterprises across various industries, including mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, woodworking, the agricultural industry, and others. Many of these investment projects are focused on import substitution and are export-oriented.
“In a number of regions, the One District, One Project initiative is delivering a truly powerful effect,” he noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko highlighted the example of Krasnapolye District, which he recently visited. Over the five-year period, the share of investment under the initiative’s projects accounted for 50% of the total volume there.
On shortcomings in implementation
The president stated that at the start of the program, there was confusion and bureaucracy, and there was no system for the specialization of districts based on their capabilities, competencies, and, most importantly, needs. “As a result, no clear criteria were established for developing plans and projects, nor for assessing their impact on the economy and regional development. Our primary indicator was the utilization of funds, sometimes at any cost. This inevitably led to excesses,” he said.
As reported to the president, auditors have complaints about half of the projects (109 out of 217). “The government reports on the general list of projects without delving properly into the essence of them. Hence, many projects are on the list formally, with all work being done only on paper. Some projects are planned for implementation using own or borrowed funds and are not on this list at all. For example, the construction of a transport and logistics center in Verkhnedvinsk District or the organization of colonized flax fiber production in Lyakhovichi District,” Aleksandr Lukashenko gave examples.
There have been instances where projects already under way for a long time or nearing completion, literally on the home stretch, were added to the list. For example, a pharmaceutical production project in Cherven District has been ongoing since 2014, yet in 2022, it was included in the initiative as if it were a new development. “I do not understand why this is necessary. Why do you include something somewhere just to report that you are ‘great’ and have fulfilled the president’s instruction? No one needs this,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
Cases have also been identified where local authorities provided no actual assistance, focusing solely on gathering and submitting reports to higher levels of government. “A number of projects appeared on the list only because businessmen were coaxed with the logic: ‘it won’t cost you anything, but the chairperson will get credit.’ Even worse are the cases where projects were added to the initiative without the businesses’ knowledge at all – they only found out they were ‘participating’ through official media reports,” the president said.
On conclusions and future plans
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the situation is twofold, and the truth, as usual, lies somewhere in the middle.
“First, the government and the governors are somewhat withholding the fact that necessary conditions have not been created for many investors: financing is not always accessible, while design and construction remain expensive, among other issues,” the head of state said. “Second, about half of our district executive committee chairpersons have failed this most important test for them.”
“The key issue is whether the district executive committee chairpersons and everyone present here (the regional executive committees, the government) are capable of implementing this initiative, these projects that these authorities jointly planned. I do not see that our authorities, especially at the local level, the district chairs, are truly living this agenda, fully immersed in it, and literally fighting for every job if it is needed in a specific district,” the president said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that some time after the announcement of the One District, One Project initiative, circumstances changed. What matters now is not simply creating new jobs, but the quality of those jobs and the economic impact of the enterprise being established, especially given that in some cases it is difficult to staff even existing facilities with workers and specialists.
Against this backdrop, there have been many cases where a project initially declared, say, 100 new jobs, but in practice resulted in 85. And formally, the project is deemed unfulfilled.
“This is bureaucracy in its purest form,” the Belarusian leader said. “If 100 were declared, but the project was implemented with 85 employees, that is acceptable when there is a personnel shortage.”
“As a result, instead of launching an investment cycle, we only created headaches for individual investors. Because inspectors at all levels hover over them, monitor every step, and kill any desire to work. This applies to everyone. It must stop, there should be no formalism. We are creating projects, not counting headcount ‘plus or minus one person’,” the head of state stressed. “As a result, businesspeople are willing to do anything to implement new projects outside such initiatives. That is why there are major projects completed in the previous five-year period that were never included in this program.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that all the issues mentioned above must be addressed and requested a report on the plans for implementing the One District, One Project initiative in the current five-year period.
“We need to revisit this initiative now that some time has passed since it was announced. The situation has changed significantly. Back then, we expected not only high-paying jobs but also the creation of jobs [in larger numbers in general]. Today this is no longer an acute problem. In some districts it still exists. There the initiative must be kept under close control, and we must look at what the governor and the city or district executive committee chairperson intend to build so that people have decent wages and jobs, real jobs,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“I emphasize once again: given the current circumstances, we need to reassess what we should do and what is most important,” the president stated.
Among such projects, based on his recent regional trips, he mentioned the need to complete the program of dairy complexes and calf-rearing facilities.
A similar approach applies to the development of fish-farming complexes, which Aleksandr Lukashenko inspected in Krasnopolye District. It may be worth scaling up this experience and developing it in other regions where it is possible and justified. “A brilliant enterprise in terms of economics and both domestic and foreign markets,” the head of state said.
Another area is the development of the agro-service network, which was discussed at the seminar-meeting in Mozyr. This includes not only servicing complex machinery but also establishing new production facilities based on them for simpler yet in-demand equipment.
The head of state also noted the need to discuss in the future the work of agricultural chemistry facilities and the existing shortcomings in storing expensive mineral fertilizers.
“There is an enormous amount of work to be done. These areas must be organized technologically. Certain projects are extremely important in terms of import substitution and supplying our own market. We need to look at this as well. We should not tie the hands of governors and local authorities. Money must also be invested in these areas. And if financial resources go toward such projects, that is perfectly acceptable,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “If we implement all this, we won’t have enough people for the remaining projects outside Minsk and elsewhere, everyone will be occupied. We have never had a situation like this. From this point of view, we may need to revise the five-year plan where necessary. That is my opinion, based on my trips around the country.”
