NOVOPOLOTSK, 18 November (BelTA) – Novopolotsk played host to an onsite meeting of the scientific advisory board at the Presidium of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus on 18 November. The meeting was chaired by Speaker of the upper house of Belarusian parliament Natalya Kochanova. Experts discussed prospects for the development of the Novopolotsk innovative industrial petrochemical cluster, BelTA has learned.
The topic for the discussion was chosen keeping in mind the experience of the Novopolotsk petrochemical cluster.
The experts visited several technological lines at Naftan Oil Refinery and held a meeting at the Polotsk State University. Senators, representatives of ministries, government bodies and organizations discussed issues related to cluster development in the near future, personnel training and production development with involvement of small and medium-sized business.
Participants considered the operation of industrial clusters in the country in general, discussed their effectiveness for the economy. “First of all, career guidance issues, personnel training were discussed. Novopolotsk is the center of science, education and enterprises, where it is possible to implement innovations. Clusters are promising,” the speaker of the upper house of parliament noted.
According to Natalya Kochanova, the scientific advisory board needs to hold regular meetings to discuss topical issues. The Council of the Republic can use such meetings to share opinions and develop recommendations. Today, for example, the participants of the meeting talked over the issue of establishing an association of assistance to the Novopolotsk cluster. After the discussion it was decided to finalize the project. “The main thing is to ensure such projects are economically sound and bring additional dividends through increasing GDP, improving people's welfare, scientific potential, attracting young people to science and improving the quality of education,” the chairwoman of the Council of the Republic stressed.
The Novopolotsk innovative industrial petrochemical cluster was founded in October 2017. It includes the Novopolotsk City Hall, Naftan Oil Refinery and the Polotsk State University. Today the cluster comprises seven organizations. It is designed to combine the efforts of science, education and industry in the development of the petrochemical industry.
Natalya Kochanova also met with representatives of Novopolotsk and Polotsk District.
Photos by Aleksandr Khitrov
