20 December, Vitebsk /BELTA correspondent/. The implementation of cost-saving measures in the Vitebsk region will yield an effect of over Br50 billion in 2012, the financial department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. As a result of the ongoing measures to optimize transport costs, staff numbers, increase labour productivity, save fuel and energy resources, and reduce the cost of goods and services in the sectors of the national economy and housing and communal services, the economic effect for 9 months amounted to over Br38 billion. The expected effect for the whole of 2012 will reach more than Br50 billion. To reduce budget expenditures in the region, a set of measures to save costs was also implemented. During their execution, budget expenditures in the social sphere were optimized. According to preliminary data, about 40 cultural and educational institutions were reorganized, and 150 round-the-clock beds in healthcare institutions were reduced. The estimated savings of budget funds from these measures will be approximately Br13 billion. In the coming year, declared the Year of Thrift in Belarus, the region will continue to implement a set of measures for the prudent and careful use of all types of resources. The forecast for the socio-economic development of the region for 2013 includes plans to reduce energy consumption by 8%, increase the share of local fuels in the region on average to 25%, and in housing and communal services - to 70%, to fully utilize the existing capacities of processing enterprises, and to increase the share of deep processing. To reduce heat losses in heating networks in housing and communal services to 4-5%. -0-

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