LYUBAN DISTRICT, 23 May (BelTA) – Creation of new production facilities is crucial for regional development, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the meeting to discuss the construction and commissioning of the mining and processing complex in Lyuban District on 23 May, BelTA has learned.
The construction of the mining and processing complex was one of the largest investment projects in the country. Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that after its launch, the new facility will dramatically change the economic landscape of not only Lyuban District, but also entire Minsk Oblast, especially its southern part, because it will create new high-paying jobs.
“And then, as it has already happened in Ostrovets, Rudensk and most recently in Petrikov, the population will increase and the standard of living is also expected to improve. The entire engineering infrastructure will be upgraded to meet the highest standards. We will build housing, social infrastructure and other facilities. But people should keep in mind that the main thing is manufacturing. It should come first. All people in the country should understand this. If we have production facilities, we will have money to build schools, kindergartens, fine arts centers, music schools and so on,” the president emphasized.
“As for Ostrovets where our nuclear power plant is located, it has become a certain golden standard for district development, so to say. This is what our Lyuban District should be like. A very interesting area, beautiful. And this complex should be the mainstay of the local economy,” the head of state remarked. “First of all, we need to complete the construction. As of today, no one can complain that the state did not fulfill its commitments regarding the financing or other things. All issues have been resolved. This is a number one construction project not only because it has such a large scale and impact, but also because it is at the final stage. Therefore, we need to finish everything by the end of the year,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko called the construction of the mining and processing complex in Lyuban District a very illustrative project. “As I have said, sanctions are also a time of opportunity. And no one can bring us to our knees if we stand together, if we are united and if we are focused on implementing the initial plan,” the president said.
The head of state admitted that he was pleasantly surprised by the district, its cleanliness and agricultural practices. “Well done. The credit goes to the chairman of the district executive committee, and our new governor, and the aide [to the president]. Well done. “We just need to keep it up,” the Belarusian leader said praising the local vertical of power.
Aleksandr Lukashenko ordered that Lyuban be included in the state investment program like Ostrovets. “While Ostrovets is home to the nuclear power plant, Lyuban should become a very modern, beautiful town of miners. It should not be inferior to Soligorsk. If we need a school, we should build it. If we need a kindergarten, we should build it. Yet housing is the main thing. The investment program for next year should provide for everything.”
According to the head of state, part of the funding will be allocated from the central budget, part will be provided by the regional budget. That said, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Lyuban District should also invest its funds, because it owns a share in the new enterprise. “You will contribute something, we will contribute something. Everything must be spelled out in the state program,” the president added.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, agriculture should not be de-prioritized. Obviously the mining and processing complex will require a lot of workforce, but if agricultural enterprises are left understaffed, it does not bode well for the district, the head of state emphasized. He also expects that the enterprise to be involved in agricultural works: “It should help sow, harvest, and so on. There should be vegetables, fruits, and berries around here. That is, this enterprise should be surrounded by a garden.”
“In other words, we should take care of both social infrastructure and production. But production comes first. People should understand: if there is production, there is money. If there is no production, there is no money and by extension no social infrastructure,” the Belarusian leader added.
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