On February 10, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The industrial potential of the Vitebsk region is not being fully utilized. This point of view was expressed today at a meeting of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee by the Chairman of the Committee of State Control of Belarus, Alexander Yakobson, BELTA correspondent reports. The Vitebsk region has a number of undeniable advantages: high industrial potential, broad opportunities in the development of entrepreneurship and tourism. "Despite the difficult situation in 2011, the region managed to maintain high development rates in industry, agriculture, and trade," stated Alexander Yakobson. At the same time, there are a number of issues in the region that require urgent solutions in 2012. According to the Chairman of the CSC, one of them concerns attracting foreign direct investment. "A barrier has been erected on the emission path of economic development, which is why attracting foreign investment is so important," emphasized Alexander Yakobson. In 2011, the region was tasked with attracting $637 million, but only 3.4% of the target was attracted. In 2012, the target was reduced to $143 million, but its fulfillment is in doubt, as only $4.5 million was attracted in January, stated the head of the CSC. The powerful industrial potential of the Vitebsk region is not being fully utilized, believes Alexander Yakobson. Its share in the GDP of Belarus was 8.6%. The reasons for this, according to the head of the control department, lie in the low profitability of sales and low labor productivity in industry. Unresolved problems exist in agriculture. In terms of production growth rates in agriculture, the region is a leader and ranks 2nd in terms of its share in the republican agricultural production volume. However, its efficiency is not high. Alexander Yakobson drew attention to the need for a prompt transition of agricultural production to a qualitative level, an increase in profitability, crop yields, and weight gain. Of particular concern to the CSC is the work on improving soil fertility in the region. According to the committee, 26% of the required fertilizers were applied to the soil last autumn. On the eve of sowing, stocks of mineral fertilizers amount to only 14% of the requirement. Among the shortcomings in the region's activities, Alexander Yakobson also mentioned the growth of debt obligations and demanded stricter economy of budget funds. -0-

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