MINSK, 8 December (BelTA) - Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian National Statistical Committee Aleksei Yarkovets spoke about Belarus’ progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during a meeting of the Council on Sustainable Development on 8 December, BelTA has learned.
This year, the Belarusian National Statistical Committee for the first time conducted a comprehensive assessment of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals at the national and regional levels. The calculations are based on data covering the period from 2015 to 2024. At the national level, 82.3% of indicators showed significant progress and achievement of high results. “The assessment results clearly confirm that already, in a number of indicators, we have not only fulfilled the set tasks but also hold leading positions compared to some countries. A key achievement is ensuring universal access to basic social services: education, healthcare, electricity, quality housing, water supply and sanitation, as well as communication and public transport. This indicates a high standard of living for the population,” Aleksei Yarkovets said.
He also emphasized that the sustained positive trends in housing provision, accessibility of urban infrastructure, and preservation of cultural heritage create a foundation for a stable and secure future for citizens. Initiatives in the field of gender equality are being successfully implemented, and the rights and opportunities for women are expanding, as confirmed by the growth of indicators characterizing their economic and political activity.
Positive trends are also observed in the economic sector. Belarus has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world. GDP and labor productivity show growth. The agro-industrial complex fully ensures the country’s food security. Environmental efforts are aimed at preserving biodiversity and increasing forest resources. All these achievements highlight a comprehensive approach to the development of human capital and the national economy.
“At the same time, it should be noted that there are areas and tasks requiring additional efforts, such as attracting foreign investment to Belarus, building the capacity of high-tech industries, climate preservation, and the environmentally sustainable use of resources to reduce the burden on the ecosystem,” the deputy chairman of the Belarusian National Statistical Committee said.
This year, the Belarusian National Statistical Committee also for the first time assessed the progress of regions in achieving the SDGs. According to the assessment results, the progress in achieving the SDGs is 80.9% for Minsk Oblast, 80.2% for Brest Oblast, 79.2% for Vitebsk Oblast, 77.7% for Gomel Oblast, 77.1% for Grodno Oblast, 76.9% for Mogilev Oblast, and 75.4% for Minsk. “Such high progress indicators confirm the seriousness of Belarus’ intentions in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Information on the regional assessment of SDG achievements allows us to identify areas requiring additional efforts that are specific to a particular territory, as well as to determine and target the needs of the most vulnerable population groups,” Aleksei Yarkovets stressed.
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