VITEBSK, 29 April (BelTA) – The Vitebsk international economic forum Innovations. Investment. Prospects will display integration structures of the agro-industrial complex of Vitebsk Oblast, Chairperson of the Economy Committee of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee Anzhelika Nikitina told a press conference held on 29 April to discuss the forthcoming forum, BelTA has learned.
“This year the forum will feature the specialization of every region, promising projects aimed at the development of the production area of the concrete territory. For the first time the forum will display the integration structures set up in Vitebsk Oblast in August 2016. They will present the entire production cycle, from the field to a store shelf, and also investment projects that these structures and their subjects would like to implement,” noted Anzhelika Nikitina.
The integration structures will have the opportunity to enhance their appeal to investors, as the implementation of such projects requires external sources as well. Potential partners will see that the complete production cycle conducted by one legal entity means lower costs and better competitiveness. “Representatives of Russian regions come to us and we see that our meat and dairy products are in great demand on their markets. The further reduction of the product cost within the integration structures will help us enter the Chinese market. Today, the price is the major factor which hampers it. We need investment to develop the raw material zone. Our processing companies have been recently upgraded and they need more raw material to load their capacity,” she explained.
The are five integration structures at the basis of Vitebsk meat-packing plant, Vitebsk broiler plant, Glubokoye feed mill, Polotsk Bakery, and Orsha Bakery. These also include pig complexes, poultry farms, cattle breeding farms and dairy commercial farms. They total 300,000 hectares of agricultural land and about 200,000 hectares of tillage. This is 24% of the total land in the oblast. Vitebsk Oblast is interested in direct foreign investment in the development of these structures, including setting up joint companies, implementation of innovative technologies in agriculture.
The 6th international economic forum Innovations. Investment. Prospects will take place in Vitebsk on 11-12 May. The forum will be held at the Vitebsk Oblast Sports center that will feature expositions of the cities and regional centers of the oblast, international exhibitions “Innovations and Innovative Products”, “Energy and Resource Saving and Environment”, “Construction Industry. Innovations in Construction”, “Integration Agro-Industrial Structures”, “Light Industry 2017”. A trading fair of goods and services will be organized as part of the forum. The program of the forum will include a section to present the Vitebsk Oblast investment potential, an international conference Energy and Resource Saving 2017, the 14th nationwide ecological forum featuring specialized exhibitions, thematic events and seminars. Taking part in the forum will be official delegations of cities and regions, representations of the diplomatic corps and business associations, companies from 14 countries.
The forum is organized by the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee and the Vitebsk City Hall, the oblast committee of natural resources and environmental protection, the oblast department to control the rational use of fuel and energy resources, the oblast marketing center, the administration of FEZ Vitebsk.
