Several projects per district! How the President's initiative is making regions stronger.

The "One District - One Project" program is scheduled to be completed in 2026. But its positive results are already evident in the numbers. These include the number of projects, new unique industries, and jobs, as well as successful business projects developing modern medicines, growing tomatoes in greenhouses, and growing rainbow trout in ponds. We explain how our district centers are becoming more attractive for both investment and living thanks to the President's "One District - One Project" initiative. 
Several Projects in One District

The "One District - One Project" program, initiated by the head of state, has been implemented in Belarus since 2022. It aims to boost investment activity in each of the country's 118 districts.

According to Dmitry Klimenkov, Head of the Main Directorate for Investment and Construction Activities at the Ministry of Economy, the total number of investment projects under the "One District - One Project" principle is 217, costing 8.9 billion rubles. Their implementation is expected to create 10,700 jobs.

As of November 1, 104 investment projects in 89 districts had already been completed. 

"Most regions of the country have already fulfilled the head of state's instructions," notes Dmitry Klimenkov. "Another 56 regions are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. The rest are additional projects for subsequent years. To date, 5 billion rubles have been spent and almost 6,500 jobs have been created.
" "All regions are making an effort," comments the Head of the Main Directorate for Investment and Construction Activities at the Ministry of Economy. The Minsk and Gomel regions have the largest number of initiated and completed projects: 51 and 38, and 28 and 19, respectively. Some of these, 15 in number, have completed two projects each. The Minsk region leads the way, with six districts having completed more than one project.

There are numerous successful examples, including several in the Mogilev region alone. For example, the carbon black production facility "Omsk Carbon Mogilev" has invested over 320 million rubles, creating over 570 jobs. Implementing this initiative will eliminate Belarus's dependence on imported carbon black, which is essential for the production of tires, plastics, polymers, and synthetic fibers. 
The Rybkhoz Paluzh production and trading unitary enterprise plans to produce up to 1,000 tons of valuable fish per year. Fish farms will be built in the Khotsimsk, Cherikov, and Krasnopolsky districts. The project has created approximately 90 jobs. A facility for breeding valuable fish species is planned to open this year in the Mogilev region. The modern rainbow trout farming complex is part of a large investment project included in the "One District - One Project" program and within the framework of the development of the southeastern region of the Mogilev region.  

Attractive Pharmaceuticals:

Under this initiative, 51 projects are planned in the region, with an investment volume of over 2 billion rubles and the creation of over 2,000 jobs. 

"The Minsk region has achieved such high results in implementing the "One District - One Project" initiative thanks to its investment attractiveness," notes Valentina Osadchik, Deputy Chair of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee's Economics Committee. "Production, personnel, and the necessary infrastructure are concentrated here."And high human potential coupled with a modern base produces truly good results.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing emerged as the most attractive areas under the "One District - One Project" program in the Minsk region this year. 
"This is where the largest projects have been implemented," explains Valentina Osadchik. "Although this may seem surprising, pharmaceutical production is indeed growing and is generating great interest among investors. For example, such projects are being implemented in the Nesvizh and Cherven districts, including by residents of the Great Stone project." Initiatives also include the development of veterinary pharmaceutical production.
A modern pharmaceutical plant in the Nesvizh district was built in just two years under the "One District - One Project" initiative and was commissioned in February 2025. The total cost of the project is 27.5 million rubles, of which 10 million rubles were provided as a loan from the Development Bank and another 17.5 million rubles from the investor, the foreign unitary enterprise Med-Interplast. The production of medications here is well-established, from the development stage and the final product mixture to the final product in tablet, capsule, or sachet form—a total of about 30 products. These include high-quality import-substituting medications for Belarus. The finished products will primarily be sold in our pharmacies, with some planned for export to neighboring countries. 
Green Resources:

The Gomel Region confidently holds the lead in the "One District - One Project" initiative. Nineteen projects, worth a total of Br930 million in investment, have already been completed, creating 1,200 jobs. Another 19 projects are underway, bringing the region approximately 700 million rubles in investment and providing employment for 550 people.

Industry remains the main driver of the Gomel Region's economy: it accounts for approximately 40% of the gross regional product and is generating stable growth.

"When we choose development directions, we always consider what we have. And we have a rich raw material base, primarily forestry," says Gomel Region Director General. "The Gomel region is the most forested region in the country, and this is a significant resource," notes Irina Davydenko, Deputy Chair of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee's Economics Committee, citing examples.
During the first years of the "One District - One Project" initiative, the woodworking process was modernized at Mozyr Woodworking Plant, and a pellet production facility was established in Pripyat National Park. A softwood lumber mill was launched in the Lelchitsy District. A modern band sawmill was installed at the AV Belles enterprise in Yelsk, producing boards, beams, and other products. The President set the goal of developing the forestry industry: modernizing enterprises, creating high-tech production facilities, replacing imports , and thereby providing jobs for the regions and increasing the country's foreign exchange earnings.
"We have everything we need: forests, production areas, and qualified personnel. This allows us to open both large and small wood processing facilities. We strive to utilize the resource completely—down to the last chip, as the President said," emphasizes Irina Davydenko, adding: "The 'One District - One Project' initiative has become a powerful incentive: new enterprises are emerging, existing ones are being modernized, and energy-saving technologies are being implemented. But most importantly, new jobs are being created. This means people stay in small towns and don't leave in search of work and a better life. "

Greenhouse Mission: 

Both state-owned enterprises, private businesses , and farms participate in the 'One District - One Project' program. The Brest Region has proven to be the most active region in this initiative, thanks to the efforts of individual entrepreneurs. 
The Stolin District has long been called the 'great Belarusian greenhouse.' Vegetables are grown here year-round, and local farmers have excelled in this field.

"As far back as I can remember, I've always been working in greenhouses, and that's almost 40 years," admits Nikolai Grib, head of the OlshanyAgro peasant farm. He started as a boy with his father, using simple plastic greenhouses, and today he owns modern glass complexes. The latest year-round greenhouse, covering 4.2 hectares, was built under the "One District - One Project" program. It's a complete high-tech complex with its own weather station, computerized irrigation, and automatic ventilation. It reaches seven meters in height.
"The higher the greenhouse, the better for the plant: more air, milder temperature fluctuations. We've learned this over the years," explains Nikolai Grib. Thanks to the implemented technologies, the vegetable picking schedule has shifted by three months: when tomatoes and cucumbers are scarce on the market, the Stolin farmers have them already ripe.

OlshanyAgro's product range is diverse, including cherry tomatoes, pink tomatoes, and yellow tomatoes. Demand is consistently high, and 99 percent of the harvest remains in Belarus. 
"We feed our people," emphasizes the head of the peasant farm. Currently, produce is harvested eight months a year without interruption, and after the implementation of new lighting systems, production volumes will increase even more.

Nikolai Grib notes that the state supports farms on par with large agricultural organizations. This allows them to develop and fulfill the President's directive to supply the domestic market with domestic vegetables. The "One District - One Project" and Pripyat Polesie Development programs are becoming important tools in this process.
"If there is a desire to work and develop, and there is government support , then the task of vegetable import substitution will be achieved," the head of OlshanyAgro is confident.

Improved version 

As Dmitry Klimenkov, Head of the Main Directorate for Investment and Construction Activities at the Ministry of Economy, noted, a logical continuation of the "One District - One Project" program, its improved version, the "Regional Initiative," was launched at the beginning of this year. It not only retains financial support but also simplifies the application and administration process. To apply for the "Regional Initiative," you don't need to contact local authorities ; simply submit an application on the website "regional-initsiativa.bel," and it will be reviewed within a month. 
To date, 293 applications have been received, with a requested loan volume of approximately 2.4 billion rubles. The creation of approximately 5,200 jobs is planned. 148 projects have already been included in the "Regional Initiative" list.

The largest number of these projects—129 in the manufacturing sector (food industry, production of landscaping products and construction materials, woodworking, etc.)—and 19 in the service sector (recreation and entertainment, hotel and medical services). Upon completion, approximately 3,500 jobs are expected to be created. 
Dmitry Klimenkov emphasized that the "Regional Initiative" focuses on more remote areas that require special attention and support.

Dairy Growth Point:

New Products from Postavy Dairy Plant OJSC9% and 5% cottage cheese and milk in PET bottles are already on store shelves. This was made possible thanks to the company's participation in the "One District - One Project" program. The project cost 14.3 million rubles: the funds were used to purchase equipment for cottage cheese production and milk bottling, as well as to create 20 jobs. Moreover, the plant did not build any new production facilities, using existing capacity, which reduced costs. 
Production even began ahead of schedule. By the end of 2025, the company plans to produce 55 tons of cottage cheese – both in convenient 200- and 400-gram tubes and frozen 20-kilogram boxes for Russian partners.
"We produced cottage cheese before, but we had to stop due to worn-out equipment." "Now, thanks to the 'One District - One Project' program, we've been able to resume production," says Alexandra Gaylevskaya, leading ideology specialist at Postavy Dairy Plant OJSC. She emphasizes: "The 'One District - One Project' program, initiated by the head of our state, is a significant and meaningful contribution to regional development. The creation of new production facilities addresses local economic development objectives with a clearly defined social focus. After all, 'One District - One Project' is our people, as the President says. This creates jobs, resolves personnel issues, and provides young professionals with an opportunity to establish themselves in their home communities.
The launch of new equipment at the Postavy Dairy Plant has also spurred the development of related businesses—dairy farms and company stores. The company already has a modern dairy processing complex, which simplifies logistics and guarantees high-quality raw materials.
" "When the local economy develops , it immediately impacts people: their well-being and life satisfaction increase." They see what the government is doing to develop not only large cities and the capital, but also smaller ones, and they strive to do something for their own small communities. All of this is the result of the President's initiative, concludes Alexandra Gaylevskaya. 

The "One District - One Project" program in figures: The total number of projects is 217, costing 8.9 billion rubles, and their implementation will create 10,700 jobs. The largest number of projects—51—are related to the food industry, and it is among the leaders in terms of investment volume by 2025. 

Svetlana KIRSANOVA, 
photo from the BELTA archive, 
"7 Dney" newspaper.