15 August, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. Trade mark-ups on school supplies in the main basic retail enterprises of the Vitebsk region do not exceed 25%, the Trade and Services Department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. In anticipation of the new academic year, the season of preparing schoolchildren is actively underway in the Vitebsk region. To enable parents to fully purchase the necessary goods, the region's retail network operates over 1,000 "first-grader corners", various promotions are held, and discounts are available for particularly needy population categories. For example, Vitebsk Department Store is offering a 3% discount on school supplies from the retail price for large families from August 10 to September 1. Other basic retail enterprises in the region's districts have also taken measures to reduce prices. In total, over 300 school fairs are planned to be held in the region for the upcoming academic season. 140 exhibitions and sales have already taken place, generating Br3 billion in turnover. In the near future – on August 18 and 25 – expanded fairs and sales involving industrial and trade enterprises of the region will be held in Vitebsk, all cities, and district centers. The minimum consumer basket for equipping primary school children in the Vitebsk region this year amounts to Br1-1.1 million, and for secondary school children – Br1.2-1.3 million.-0-

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