A. Lukashenko expects proposals on investments in the Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant within a month

According to the Head of State, not only the director of this plant, but also the heads of the regional executive committee and the district executive committee should play a significant role in the modernization of the enterprise. Alexander Lukashenko instructed them to get fully involved in the work and to start measures to bring the plant to efficient operation. At the same time, according to the Head of State, in the future, all premises of the plant, all buildings should be utilized. "If there is an investor, then he will also join in. If not, then you will do everything yourselves," noted Alexander Lukashenko. The President also paid special attention to the issue of developing the social sphere of the urban-type settlement Bolbasovo, where the Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant is located. JSC "Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant" is a leading enterprise in Belarus for the overhaul of various modifications of Mi-8 (Mi-17), Mi-24 helicopters, as well as units of various aviation equipment. The Head of State believes that in the future, the plant should carry out aircraft repair as well, and transition to more modern modifications of equipment. "In the future, we must repair helicopters and airplanes. The equipment that is here now is equipment of the past," he said. In addition, the President was informed about the plans to create the international multimodal logistics center "Orsha" on the basis of JSC "Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant" within the framework of cooperation between the plant and the Hong Kong company SVT Development (Logistics) Limited. The planned area of the center is 1 million square meters. Expected investments in it at the first stage will be about $30 million. The territory of the logistics center will include warehouse facilities equipped for loading and unloading operations, cargo storage areas, a business center, a cafe, and a hotel. The share of investment from the Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant is considered to be 25%, and the remaining 75% are funds from the Hong Kong investor.The project implementation will allow for the effective use of air transport infrastructure and territorial proximity to international transport corridors passing through the republic's territory. It is assumed that the project implementation will partially relieve the load on Domodedovo Moscow Airport. The distance from the plant to the Russian border is about 50 km. The enterprise's close proximity to the major railway hub of Orsha and the international highways Moscow-Brest and Saint Petersburg-Odessa allows for the delivery of aviation equipment requiring repair not only by air but also by rail and road transport. JSC "Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant" is subordinate to the Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Belarus. The enterprise holds a repair organization certificate issued by the Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee, granting the right to perform major repairs and modifications according to the documentation of the developer for Mi-8 (Mi-17) helicopters of various modifications, a certificate of conformity of the certification system in civil aviation of Russia for performing major repairs of Mi-8 helicopters of various modifications and their components, and an international quality management system standard certificate ISO9001. The President also visited the settlement of Khimy in the Orsha district. Alexander Lukashenko sets the task of developing villages while preserving their identity. The Head of State believes that it is necessary to create a production base in villages for people's employment, but at the same time, villages should not be turned into cities. "We need to revive the village so that it is convenient for people to live and work," he said. The settlement of Khimy is located on the border of the Vitebsk and Mogilev regions. In total, there are 43 residential houses here, including 35 summer cottages. Previously, it was a relatively large village. Today, the population here is 10 people, all of whom are pensioners. The President was presented with a plan for the revival of this settlement as an agro-industrial complex with agricultural production. Thus, by 2025, it is planned to create a production and social sphere, and engineering infrastructure here. The local authorities' interest is driven by the convenient location of the settlement, and the placement of production sites on these lands fits well into the overall development scheme of the rural territories of the Orsha district.A workshop for bottling mineral and drinking water, and a confectionery factory are planned to be built in the settlement. Fresh drinking water accounts for only 3% of the planet's water resources. At the same time, the share of easily accessible fresh water is no more than 2%. Currently, approximately 54% of all available surface water runoff is already used. Belarus has great prospects in the development of clean drinking water production. Such explored reserves of drinking and mineral water are also available in the vicinity of the settlement of Khimy. It is planned that the capacity of the workshop for its extraction and bottling will be 0.44 million dekalitres per year. The cost of the investment project is estimated at almost Br50 billion. A confectionery factory, mainly producing sponge cake rolls, is also planned to be built here. The annual production volume is expected to be 2.7 thousand tons. This will fully satisfy the demand of Belarusian consumers for this product, replacing imported analogues. The cost of the investment project will be Br40.5 billion. It is expected that the project will fully pay for itself within 5 years. As noted by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, the plant will be erected by the new year. In addition, residential buildings, a shop, a paramedic and obstetric station, a service centre, a cafe, and a kindergarten will be built in the settlement. Alexander Lukashenko approved the projects presented to him, but at the same time emphasized that this village should not be turned into a city under any circumstances. "Let's agree that we will not build a city here. Why do we need it here? This village needs to be revived, like Alexandria," said the President. "A village needs to be revived here, period. Bring in production, young people. However, there should be no excesses in construction." At the same time, the head of state believes that there is no need to rush: facilities should be built as needed. "Under no circumstances should anything be done artificially," he said. At the same time, the President stressed his unwavering requirement that none of the facilities should be built on arable land. "I categorically forbid encroaching on ploughland: no farms, no factories – nothing," he noted. It is also planned to build 10 agro-ecotels in the village. According to the President, if there are those willing to engage in the development of this tourism sector, it will only benefit everyone. However, this should be at the initiative of private individuals, without affecting budget funds. A broiler poultry farm for duck meat production is also planned to be built near the settlement of Khimy. Negotiations are already underway with foreign investors willing to participate in this project. The farm's payback period is estimated at 5 years. This type of product is in demand both in Belarus, where duck meat production volumes are currently small, and in Russia, where the products will be exported. The duck poultry farm will become a production site where residents of the nearby village of Lipki will also work. Thanks to this facility, the settlement will develop. Initially, it was planned to locate the poultry farm in Khimy, however, the Head of State proposed to involve the labor resources of the neighboring village of Lipki as well. The project for the revival of the village of Khimy is unique in its own way, as nothing similar has been done in the country before. Therefore, the experience of implementing this idea may prove to be highly sought after. The Head of State, summarizing what he saw, said: "We must do this everywhere. People have lived here for centuries, let them live. We need to create a production base. And the rest: when the time comes, we will develop." Tomorrow, the President will continue his working trip around the country's regions and will visit the Mogilev region. The Head of State will focus on issues of agricultural development, particularly livestock breeding and the implementation of new technologies for storing agricultural products. -0-

BELTA