On September 26, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Approximately Br1.3 trillion in investments have been directed towards the development of Vitebsk's economy over 8 months of 2011, as reported to BELTA correspondent by Zinaida Koroleva, Deputy Chairperson of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee. The volume of investments increased by almost 18% compared to the same period last year. New construction and the modernisation and reconstruction of existing production facilities account for the largest share of the total investment volume. As Zinaida Koroleva noted, there is currently a trend towards an increase in the share of investments attracted to the active part of fixed capital. For instance, the volume of investments directed towards the acquisition of machinery and equipment amounted to Br588.8 billion, or 46.5%, compared to 33.4% in January-August 2010. Within the framework of the State Investment Programme for 2011, the implementation of 18 projects with an investment volume of Br75 billion rubles for 2011 is planned for the city's territory. Over January-July 2011, Br46.2 billion was utilised, or 61.6% of the annual target. Thanks to the state programme, a unique medical library, built at Vitebsk Medical University, has been commissioned. In Vitebsk, 185 measures of the investment and innovation development programme for the Vitebsk region are planned for implementation. The implementation of 138 measures has commenced this year. To attract additional investments into the city's economy, in accordance with Decree No. 10 "On Creating Additional Conditions for Investment Activities in the Republic of Belarus," 30 agreements on the implementation of investment projects in Vitebsk have been concluded (more than half of the total number of agreements concluded for the Vitebsk region). Within the framework of implementing investment agreements, the mechanical workshop building and an administrative building, along with a car service station, tyre fitting workshop, and car wash of Private Unitary Enterprise "Vitstroytekhmash," 2 retail outlets of Closed Joint Stock Company "Omega," and the "Zhuravinka" restaurant of Limited Liability Company "Grill-pivo" have already been commissioned. Over 400 jobs have been created. Furthermore, this has allowed for the initial involvement of over Br20 billion monthly in Vitebsk's retail trade turnover, and Br250 million in public catering retail turnover. -0-

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