On April 19, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Approximately 15% of the consolidated budget revenue of the Vitebsk region is generated by small and medium-sized businesses. This was announced today at the solemn award ceremony for the winners and laureates of the "Best Entrepreneur of the Vitebsk Region 2011" competition by the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Oleg Matskevich, reports BELTA correspondent. "Private business in Belarus is on the path of formation, and broad opportunities for development are open to it," the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee is confident. In support of his words, he reported that 9.4% of industrial production in the Vitebsk region falls on small businesses. The growth rate of production volumes in 2011 was 217% with an average figure for the region of 214%. The profit of private business is estimated at Br850 billion. Private entrepreneurs exported products worth $1 billion and achieved a positive foreign trade balance. Small and medium-sized businesses employ 19% of the economically active population. As Oleg Matskevich emphasized, the authorities will continue to promote the development and support of private initiative and stimulate business activity. Thus, by reducing the tax burden alone, enterprises will be able to additionally receive Br200 billion this year. In addition, state support for business will continue. Last year, Br2.5 billion in budget loans were allocated to small businesses in the region, and about Br1 billion was directed to preferential lending for private projects. This year, Br5 billion will be allocated to lending to small businesses. At the same time, Oleg Matskevich noted that private businesses need to show more initiative and propose breakthrough projects. The best entrepreneurs of the region have been identified in ten nominations. Among them are the joint limited liability company "Zavod "Nodvig" from Polotsk, which produces AC electric motors, and SOOO "LLK-Naftan", which produces oils. In the Vitebsk region, at the beginning of the year, 25 thousand individual entrepreneurs and 8.2 thousand legal entities were operating.-0-

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