Harvesters, oil and porcelain. Krupko about the industrial potential of the Gomel region

The Gomel region plays a really important role in the economy of Belarus. Only here Belarusian combines and porcelain dishes are produced. In the Gomel region there are enterprises for the production of bleached pulp and coated cardboard. All our oil and gas production is carried out in this region. it also houses the largest glass and metallurgical plants in the CIS and Europe, as well as one of the leaders in oil refining in the post-Soviet space. Here are the National Park "Pripyatsky", which is called the pearl of the Belarusian Polesye, and one of the most famous museums in the country - the palace of the Rumyantsevs and Paskeviches. The chairman of the Gomel regional executive committee Ivan Krupko spoke about the development of the region in an interview with the magazine.

- Ivan Ivanovich, how can you generally assess the economic potential of the Gomel region? What are the main tasks of socio-economic development for 2023 facing the region?

- Modern Gomel region is the largest steadily developing region of the republic. Various types of activities are well developed in the region's economy. The industrial complex is working efficiently, small and medium-sized businesses are active , production and infrastructure projects are being implemented. All this has a positive impact on the social sphere.

Despite all the difficulties, the region's economy completed last year and started the current year with a worthy result, having adapted to the new working conditions.

Today, our region makes a significant contribution to the structure of republican production volumes: about 12% of the country's gross domestic product, 20% of industrial production, 12% of agricultural production, and 14% of investment in fixed assets.

The basis of the region's economy is the industrial complex. This is mainly the production of petroleum products, metallurgy, the production of machinery and equipment, the extraction of fuel and energy minerals, chemical production, the food industry and others.

An active investment activity contributes to the growth of industrial potential. In recent years, major investment projects have been implemented in the region: the production capacity of the metallurgical plant in Zhlobin has been increased, the production of industrial glass processing in Gomel has been modernized, the production of bleached sulphate pulp has been launched in Svetlogorsk, the production of coated and uncoated types of cardboard has been created in Dobrush, Petrikovsky mining and processing plant, a large-scale technical re-equipment of the woodworking enterprises of the region was carried out, food industry enterprises and other projects were modernized.

Today, we face serious challenges in the development of all regions without exception. In small ones, this is primarily an increase in the volume of agricultural products and the development of enterprises for the processing of local raw materials. In large industrial regions - expansion of production capacities at existing enterprises, creation of cooperative chains on their basis, creation of import-substituting

productions.

The investment attractiveness of each area is special. Many of them are rich in forests, there is potential in the implementation of projects for the use of mineral deposits to create new industries (rock SALT , bentonite clay, quartz sand, sapropels, ultra-fresh drinking water).

This year, more than 100 investment projects are being implemented in the real sector of the region's economy. There are 22 projects under the special control of the regional executive committee, which are being implemented within the framework of the instruction of the HEAD of state "one district - one project." All of them are implemented according to the schedule, without significant deviations.

The Gomel region is traditionally an export-oriented region, more than half of the manufactured products are supplied outside the republic.

Last year, we carried out significant work on geographic and sectoral diversification of EXPORT deliveries, search for partners in promising markets, contracts were concluded, including in far-arc countries. This year we plan to export goods worth more than $4 billion.

The development of integration processes within the framework of the Union State is being activated - interregional ties are being strengthened and expanded, as well as trade, economic, investment and cooperative cooperation with Russian regions.

In general, the results of the work of the Gomel region with the Russian Federation in the trade sphere can be characterized as dynamic and quite effective. The share of this direction in the foreign trade turnover of the region is about 70%. More than $200 million worth of products are exported to RUSSIA every month.

This is facilitated by the signing of bilateral documents, holding joint business events, visits and negotiations both at the level of enterprises and the leadership of the regions.

In general, the economic policy of the Gomel region, as well as the republic as a whole, has been aimed at balanced development for many years. This is also relevant at the present stage, when social stability and improving the quality of life of the population are priorities.

- As you noted, the basis of the region's economy is the industrial complex, where about 40% of the gross regional product is formed. What does the region look like in terms of industrial production? Tell us more about the production potential of the Gomel region.

- In the structure of republican volumes of industrial production, the Gomel region occupies about 20%. This is the result of the work of more than 200 large and medium-sized, as well as more than a thousand small and micro-enterprises.

In the Gomel region, alloil and gas, all Belarusian pulp, grain and forage harvesters, more than 90% of steel and sheet polished glass, more than 80% of food salt and porcelain products, more than 20% of plywood, wood-fiber boards, metalworking machine tools, almost 15% of Belarusian potassium.

The volume of industrial production in the region in 2022 amounted to about Br34 billion. Per capita, industrial output was produced in the amount of almost Br25 thousand, which is the best indicator among the regions of the republic.

This year the industry also tends to grow. Already in the first quarter of this year, the volume of industrial production increased by more than 4%. This suggests that our products are in demand and are ready to be purchased.

Not a single large construction project in the republic can do without the products of the Belarusian Metallurgical and Rechitsa Hardware Plants, JSC Belshina - without steel cord, machine-building enterprises - without rolled products, and the petrochemical complex - without seamless pipes from Zhlobin.

On the fields all over the republic, you can see the red harvesters of Gomselmash, and on the roads - gas stations of Belorusneft. Without the products of the Mozyr Oil Refinery, the full-fledged operation of the transport complex is impossible.

The Gomel Carriage Works provides the Belarusian Railways with new passenger cars, and Gomelsteklo provides the construction and machine-building complex, as well as furniture manufacturers of the republic with various types of glass (sheet, tempered, laminated).

Fertilizers from the Gomel Chemical Plant are a guarantee of a high yield in the agro-industrial complex, which not only ensures the country's food security, but also plays an important role in export supplies.

The only enterprises in the republic for the production of bleached pulp (OJSC "Svetlogorsk CCC") and coated cardboard (branch "Dobrush paper factory" Hero of Labor ") meet the needs of the pulp and paper industry in raw materials for the production of various types of packaging and disposable tableware from environmental materials.

Do not forget about our delicious and beautiful brands, which are not only in demand on the domestic market, but also enjoy well-deserved prestige on the external market: chocolate from the Spartak confectionery factory, Rogachev condensed MILK, Mozyr salt, Dobrush porcelain, jewelry and diamonds from the Gomel factory " Crystal", costumes of the "Comintern".

Thanks to the efforts of the teams of enterprises in 2022, the production of food and beverages, machinery and equipment, pulp, paper and cardboard, wood-fiber boards, mineral and chemical fertilizers, machine tools for metal processing, as well as oil production increased in the region as a whole. In the current year, these industries, as well as metallurgical and pharmaceutical production, the production of optical equipment, electrical equipment, rubber and plastic products, show a stable growth in output.

- How difficult is the implementation of the investment plan for the current year? What interesting investment projects are being implemented at industrial enterprises?

- Investments are the driver of economic growth in the region. This year, when developing the forecast, we scrupulously approached just the filling of the investment portfolio. The indicator for the growth rate of investments in fixed capital for 2023 is planned at the level of 122.9%, which is Br5.6 billion.

The investment portfolio of the Gomel region for 2023 is formed from 127 investment projects of industrial, construction and agricultural enterprises.

Given the current global environment, it is critical to minimize dependencyfrom imported components. This is the number one challenge today. The pool of industrial investment projects includes a comprehensive modernization of existing and creation of new production facilities of Gomselmash OJSC, expansion of the model range of axial piston hydraulic pumps and hydrostatic transmissions of SALEO-Gomel OJSC, the creation of the production of multifunctional processing equipment of StankoGomel OJSC, the development of the production of climatic equipment UP "Veza-G", the creation of a new production of bar chocolate JV JSC "Spartak", the organization of the processing of post-alcohol stillage into dry fodder products of the JSC "Gomel Distillery" Radamir ". The reconstruction of the shop for the production of food products based on secondary dairy raw materials SOOO " BELSIR".

There are also developments for the future. The Ministry of Architecture and Construction has set up an intersectoral working group to build a plant for the production of baking soda at the Zaozernoye deposit in the Yelsk region. In the Mozyr region, the issue of building a plant for the production of iron and foundry products up to 20 thousand tons per year with a planned staff of 100 people is being worked out.

Housing construction is one of the areas of investment. This year, it is planned to build 535 thousand square meters of housing, including 215 thousand square meters of housing with state support.

The development of the region's infrastructure ensures comfortable living for citizens, and also creates investment sites for industrial projects. In 2023, it is planned to reconstruct two bridges (across the Pripyat and Dnieper rivers), three stadiums in small settlements, start building a children's clinic in the Novobelitsky district of Gomel to serve new microdistricts, as well as a polyclinic in the Zheleznodorozhny district of Gomel, construction of a swimming pool in the regional center.

For the development of the region, we offer businesses more than 360 promising investment sites, information about which is posted on the websites of city and district executive committees, the regional executive committee in the "Investor" section, as well as on the specialized site "Investor Road Map".

The well-coordinated and efficient work of all sectors of the economy and the vertical of power allows us to ensure the economic development of the region and a decent standard of living for our citizens.

- Import substitution is today a strategic task for our country. Are the enterprises of the Gomel region successfully solving the issues of import substitution?

- In the Gomel region, for more than ten years, regional action plans for import substitution have been implemented. The enterprises of the region are actively involved in the process of increasing the localization of the production of domestic products (the share of their own components and materials), increasing the depth of its processing, and also provide the necessary goods not only for the domestic market, but also for the inflow of foreign currency into the country through export deliveries.

Так, если по итогам 2012 года коммунальные и частные предприятия производили импортозамещающую продукцию по 50 наименованиям на сумму $290 млн, то по итогам 2022 года уже по 110 товарным позициям на сумму около $865 млн. В 2023 году запланирован выпуск уже 153 позиций импортозамещающей продукции. Объем производства должен составить как минимум $880 млн.

В качестве успешных примеров импортозамещения или локализации производства можно отметить СОАО "Гомелькабель", поставляющее медный эмалированый провод предприятиям Министерства промышленности, ООО "Фрешпак Солюшенс" - пакеты и барьерную пленку предприятиям мясо-молочной отрасли, уплотнительную прокладку для производства винтового алюминиевого колпачка ПУП "Алкопак", которое в свою очередь поставляет укупорочную продукцию предприятиям алкогольной отрасли республики, ООО "Стеклозавод "Ведатранзит" - банки для консервирования предприятиям, выпускающим плодоовощные консервы, и так далее.

Within the framework of the regional program, about 25 investment projects are being implemented aimed at increasing localization, in-depth processing and expanding integration ties in the Union State.

It is planned that in Gomel the production of metal lids for glass jars will be increased, in the Svetlogorsk region - the line of flavored salts and other compositions for taking baths, as well as aroma compositions of essential oils will be expanded, the production of packaging and decorative materials (kraft paper) in demand on the market will be mastered. . Production of organo-mineral fertilizers based on peat-sapropel mixtures obtained from the depths of Belarusian swamps has already begun in the Lelchitsy district.

- And how is the social sphere developing? Please tell us about the projects that are currently being implemented in the field of healthcare and education.

- Decent living conditions and people's HEALTH remain among the priorities that are being addressed in the region. In healthcare, a complex of state and industry programs aimed at developing and improving the industry has been implemented with high efficiency. Stable fulfillment of all state social standards has been ensured.

New high-tech methods of diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation of patients are being actively introduced. In 2022, more than 9.4 thousand high-tech medical and more than 10.8 thousand complex surgical interventions were performed.

A network of inter-district centers for the provision of high-tech and specialized medical care is being developed. There are 4 key health care institutions in the region (Zhlobin, Rechitsa, Svetlogorsk Central District Hospital and Mozyr CGP), on the basis of which there are 15 interdistrict departments that provide medical care in inpatient conditions in 19 profiles, and 19 - in outpatient conditions in 16 profiles. The development of a network of inter-district centers can significantly increase the availability of high-tech types of medical care to the population of the districts.

In the last three years alone, the number of high-tech and complex surgical interventions performed at the inter-district level has increased by 33%.

Significant work has been done in the region to develop infrastructure and strengthen the material and technical base of health care.

The reconstruction of the admission department of the Gomel City Clinical Emergency Hospital was completed with the addition of a new building and equipping it with modern high-tech medical equipment. This is one of the important and necessary social projects, implemented in a short time.

Also, the premises of the operating unit of the Gomel City Clinical Hospital No. 3 were modernized, during which 7 operating rooms were reconstructed.

Since September last year, the Gomel University Clinic, the regional hospital for disabled veterans of the Great Patriotic War, began its work in the region, which made it possible to organize the provision of medical care based on modern achievements in medical science, technology and best practices, ensure the participation of practicing doctors in the educational process, and bring scientific activity to a qualitatively new level. of the medical university by involving medical workers from the structural divisions of the university clinic.

More than Br23.61 million allocated to equip healthcare organizations with medical equipment in 2022

Projects in the field of education and health improvement are also being implemented in the region. For example, now at the expense of the regional budget the Kommunarovsky secondary school of the Buda-Koshelevsky district is being updated. There is a reconstruction and an extension is being built. The commissioning of this facility is planned for the first quarter of 2024. As a result, the conditions for teaching children will improve significantly for residents of the agricultural town of Kommunar - there will be new classrooms for younger students, assembly and sports halls, a catering unit with a dining room, workshops, chemistry and physics classrooms.

The reconstruction of the dormitory building in the recreation camp "Chenkovsky Bor" is also underway. In the summer there will be a second building of the kindergarten. In Mozyr this year, the former university educational building will be reconstructed into a kindergarten for 280 children. Another facility for preschool children is being built in Gomel. Its construction began this year and will be completed early next year.

Along with educational facilities in the region, health improvement projects are being implemented in children's rehabilitation and health centers.

In five children's rehabilitation and health centers of the region, construction is being carried out at the expense of subventions intended to eliminate the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

In Gomel, the reconstruction of the KUP "HICC" Kristalny "on Zhemchuzhnaya St., 5 has begun. After the commissioning of the facility in 2024, the HRC will be redesigned to receive children of preschool age.

Also in the current year, funds were allocated for the modernization of the roof of the HEC "Praleska" of the Zhlobin district, the heating main of the HRC "Romantika-Lux", the improvement of the territory of the HRC "Ptich" of the Petrikovsky district.

Particular attention is given to projects in the field of civil and patriotic education of the younger generation. The regional competition "Young archivist" organized by the main department of education of the regional executive committee together with the main department of justice and the main department of ideological work, culture and youth affairs deserves special mention. In 2023, it is held for the third time and is dedicated to the history of the partisan movement in the Gomel region.

As you can see, there are also a lot of areas of work in the social sphere.

- In recent years, agriculture has been intensively developing in the region . What results have been achieved? What directions are the most promising here?

- As you know, the main forecast indicator characterizing agriculture is the growth rate of gross agricultural output. In January-March of this year, agricultural organizations, including farms, produced products worth Br486.8 million in current prices, or 100.2% in comparable prices compared to the same period in 2022.

For three months of the year, 44.9 thousand tons of live weight livestock and poultry were grown in agricultural organizations of the region, or 101.9% compared to the corresponding period of last year. Gross milk yield amounted to 206 thousand tons, 90.7 million units were produced. eggs.

I will also name indicative figures: the average daily weight gain in the cultivation and fattening of cattle amounted to 479 g, pigs - 510 g.

Сегодня в области производство молока является основным ежедневным источником получения денежных средств для выплаты заработной платы работникам сельхозорганизаций, первоочередных платежей. В связи с этим молочное скотоводство у нас приоритетное направление.

В этом году введен в эксплуатацию молочно-товарный комплекс с доильной установкой типа "карусель" в ОАО "Знамя Родины" Гомельского района, до конца года запланировано сдать в эксплуатацию еще две новые молочно-товарные фермы в ОАО "Чемерисский" и ОАО "Комаринский" Брагинского района, продолжатся работы на двух фермах в Жлобинском и Наровлянском районах, завершить которые предполагается в следующем году.

Кроме того, по поручению главы государства в области запланирована реконструкция девяти молочно-товарных ферм (по одной - в Буда-Кошелевском, Ветковском, Добрушском, Жлобинском, Калинковичском, Речицком и Рогачевском районах, двух - в Мозырском), создать 24 помещения для содержания дойного стада на 8200 постановочных ското-мест, 11 новых доильно-молочных блоков и 7 помещений для сухостоя. Это также планы текущего года.

Очень важно, что строительство и реконструкция объектов ведутся с господдержкой в виде льготных кредитов, средств областного бюджета и выделенных в рамках Государственной программы по преодолению последствий катастрофы на Чернобыльской АЭС на 2021-2025 годы.

Что касается отрасли растениеводства, то на 2023 год совместно с Национальной академией наук Беларуси и Министерством сельского хозяйства и продовольствия разработана оптимальная структура посевных площадей всех районов Гомельской области. Увеличена доля сева озимых культур и многолетних трав на пашне за счет уменьшения площади сева кукурузы на силос. Полагаю, что сформированная структура и вовремя выполненные полевые работы позволят получить более миллиона тонн зерна (в первоначально оприходованном весе).

В этом году предусмотрено возведение пяти новых зерносушильных комплексов (в ОАО "Завидовское" и ОАО "Утевское" Добрушского района, в СПК "Дружба-Автюки" Калинковичского района, в ОАО "Октябрьский-Агро" Октябрьского района и в КСУП "Судково" Хойникского района).

According to our forecasts, compliance with technological regulations in livestock and crop production, as well as production discipline, will make it possible this year to ensure an increase in gross agricultural output by 16.2% in comparable prices against the level of 2022.

- The Gomel region is a land of unique nature and wonderful tourist sites. To what extent is the natural, historical and cultural potential of the region in demand? What attracts tourists to the Gomel region today?

- Our region is more and more actively declaring itself as a tourist region. The number of foreign tourists doubled in 2022 compared to 2021.

We really have something to show and offer guests. Thanks to the unique nature, rich cultural and material heritage, rural traditions, projects in the field of agroecotourism are being successfully implemented today.

All agricultural estates are completely different and colorful in their own way. In some, tourists will be offered to cook and taste bread from the oven on natural sourdough, stay in themed rooms, in others they will ride a horse along the most wonderful paths and see charming places, in the third they will be introduced to the history of Belarusian folk humor, in the fourth - fishing and canoeing and much more that is not available to residents of the city. And all this - while preserving the original culture and traditions of the ancestors of the ethnic Polissya.

The visiting card of the Gomel region are sanatorium-and-spa institutions and treatment with sapropelic and peat mud, water procedures using natural mineral waters from their own sources and underground wells, massage rooms, baths and saunas, cryosaunas, acupuncture, treatment with leeches, bees, in some health resorts offer up to 200 types of medical services, various SPA-technologies are actively used.

Not to mention the fact that they are all located in forests, on the banks of rivers and lakes. The natural potential of the region is complemented by environmental institutions. A striking example is the Pripyatsky National Park. It is distinguished by unique natural landscapes, high biological diversity, rich fishing and hunting grounds. It is a natural science laboratory and a great place to relax.

The historical and cultural potential of the region is represented by 866 immovable historical and cultural values ​​and 26 institutions of museum activity.

- In the Year of Peace and Creation, what, in your opinion, needs to be done for the dynamic economic development of the region and the improvement of people's living conditions?

- As our President said: undress and work. The development of regions for the benefit of a comfortable, prosperous life for people - regardless of where they live: in a large city or a small rural settlement - this is our goal.

Suffice it to say about the well-known Gomel trend - the comprehensive improvement of settlements. For more than 15 years, one or two regional centers or agro-towns have been brought to a decent appearance in the region every year. Funds are being concentrated - and each industry is perfecting its buildings and territories. Thus, over the years we have received almost 25 well-groomed towns and villages where you want to live, work, and raise children. We do not stop work: last year Dovsk of the Rogachev region and Dobrush were transformed, and this year Oktyabrsky and Ozarichi of the Kalinkovichi region will be updated.

On behalf of the President, we are actively working to create new industries and jobs with good earnings in each region. We build a lot. We rejoice and are proud of the successes and achievements of our residents, young and old.