March 5, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Approximately Br60 billion is planned to be allocated in 2012 for the development of trade infrastructure in the Vitebsk region, BELTA was informed by the Trade and Services Department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. In accordance with the subprogram "Vittorg" of the regional program for innovative and investment development of the Vitebsk region for 2011-2015, 24 trade facilities and three markets will appear in the region this year. The implementation of projects will create over 800 jobs. The most large-scale facilities will be commissioned in the new residential microdistricts in Vitebsk, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, and Orsha. Shopping centers, trade and entertainment complexes, and specialized markets will open here. Three shops each will appear in Beshenkovichsky, Gluboksky, Lepelsky districts, two each in Postavsky, Braslavsky, and one each in Verkhnedvinsky, Gorodoksky, Miorsky, Polotsky, Tolochinsky, and Shumilinsky districts. The creation of convenience stores and public catering facilities will continue. About fifty of the latter will be opened, of which 20 will be roadside service facilities. Through new construction, reconstruction of existing facilities, and resumption of operation of previously closed facilities, it is planned to ensure an increase in retail space by 12 thousand sq.m. this year. This means that the provision of retail space per capita by the end of this year will reach 425 sq.m. per thousand inhabitants. In 2011, through new construction and reconstruction, 137 trade facilities with a total retail area of 16 thousand sq.m. and 77 public catering facilities, including 10 roadside service facilities, were commissioned. The provision of retail space per capita was 420 sq.m. per thousand inhabitants. Currently, trade services in the region are provided by more than 6 thousand trade facilities with a total area of 510 thousand sq.m. and about 1.8 thousand public catering facilities with 97 thousand seats. -0-

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