On September 14, Vitebsk /Sergey Kochetov - BELTA/. The export volume of the Vitebsk region in January-July this year increased by more than 1.5 times compared to the same period last year. This was announced today to journalists by the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Oleg Matskevich, reports a BELTA correspondent. Based on the results of foreign economic activity for seven months (excluding oil products), the region achieved a positive balance both in terms of commodity products - $78 million, and services - $24 million. Today, the efforts of authorities and enterprise managers are aimed at minimizing the negative consequences that have occurred in the country; in this work, special attention is paid to import substitution and export growth, Oleg Matskevich emphasized. "Achieving a positive balance is the main indicator of the effectiveness of the work carried out in these areas," he noted. Based on the results of 2011, it is expected that the positive balance of the region's foreign economic activity will be about $120 million (excluding oil products). The region will continue to work and provide support for the implementation of import-substituting and export-oriented projects, especially since the region has the potential to organize the production of products for many imported items, Oleg Matskevich is confident. -0-

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