In the Vitebsk region, school fairs will be held on August 18 and 25.

Retail outlets in the Vitebsk region have launched the active sales season for school supplies. Specialised fairs will be held in all cities and district centres before the start of the academic year on August 18 and 25, as reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Main Department of Trade and Services of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

Extended trade in goods for schoolchildren has been organised in the region since July 15 and will continue until early October. Over 30 additional jobs have been created in retail outlets for the duration of the fairs. Goods necessary for education can also be purchased in shops, where approximately 70 corners for first-graders and schoolchildren have been set up.

A wide range of clothing and footwear for students is available: about 70 models for boys and over 80 for girls. "This year, the price of a business-style clothing set for pupils in grades 1-4 will range from Br60 to Br166 for boys and from Br69 to Br152 for girls. For senior students, the prices will be Br86-176 and Br96-200 respectively. The estimated cost of a student's consumer set: from Br40 to Br190 for junior grades, and from Br40 to Br180 for senior grades. There will also be promotions to reduce wholesale and retail prices, and goods can be purchased on credit and in instalments using cards," the department emphasised.

School fairs in Vitebsk will be held on Lenina Street with the participation of economic entities of all forms of ownership. Customers can expect products of domestic and foreign production.

In anticipation of the new academic year, many retail businesses are independently holding various price reduction campaigns on school supplies for large and low-income families. In addition, public associations are conducting their own assistance campaigns. For example, on August 10, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the regional committee of the BRSM will hold a charity event "To School with a Kind Heart!" at the "Euroopt" hypermarket on Stroiteley Avenue in Vitebsk to collect stationery for children from needy large and single-parent families, as well as families experiencing difficulties in preparing children for the academic year, and children's boarding institutions.