28 April, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. The budget of the Vitebsk region was executed in the first quarter of the current year with a surplus of Br67 billion. This was announced today by the Head of the Financial Department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Boris Kichanovsky, at the 20th extraordinary session of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies of the 26th convocation, according to a BELTA correspondent. In the Vitebsk region, based on the results of the first quarter of the current year, positive dynamics were ensured across most parameters of socio-economic development. The intensification of economic activity made it possible to mobilise revenues to the budgets of cities and districts, as well as to the regional budget. In January-March, the local budget received about Br1.6 trillion in taxes and non-tax revenues. The annual plan was fulfilled by 30.7% against the refined annual values. In the first quarter, advance financing of expenditures for the agro-industrial complex, and budgets of cities and districts was ensured through subsidies from the regional budget, and socially significant spheres were subsidised. As a result, expenditures of the Vitebsk region budget were financed by 26% against the refined annual plan. The main part of the funds was traditionally directed to financing the social sphere – about 60% of all budget expenditures of the region. Significant support from the regional budget funds was provided to the agro-industrial complex. For the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, expenditures for agricultural organisations in the region were increased by Br280.2 billion to carry out sowing campaigns. To ensure the fulfilment of obligations to banks for the repayment of debts on loans attracted for the purchase of mineral fertilisers in accordance with concluded agreements, and to resolve the issue of fulfilling guarantee obligations to banks for overdue debts of agricultural organisations, the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies decided to refineThe Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, noted that in previous years, large-scale work had been carried out in the region in various areas, requiring the involvement of significant resources. New agricultural machinery worth Br2.5 billion has been purchased, which has made it possible to almost completely modernise the region's agro-industrial complex machinery. 200 thousand hectares of arable land have been ploughed, requiring expenditure on fuel and mineral fertilisers. Under the "Clean Fields" programme, 130 thousand hectares of shrubbery have been cleared from fields. About 30 new and over 40 reconstructed dairy farms have been built. A significant volume of work has been done on the development and modernisation of meat and dairy industry enterprises. The Glubokskoye and Miory meat processing plants, the Verkhnedvinsk butter and cheese factory, and a number of other enterprises have been modernised. New cheese production workshops are being built at the Postavy Dairy Plant and the Braslav branch of the Glubokoye Dairy and Preserves Plant. "The invested funds must yield and are already yielding results. They will pay for themselves completely within 2-3 years," emphasised Alexander Kosinets. -0-

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