The Smolensk public organization of the Russian Youth Union and the Vitebsk Oblast Committee of the Belarusian youth union BRSM plan to develop cooperation through joint projects in 2017, First Secretary of the Vitebsk Oblast Committee of the BRSM Youth Union Viktor Glushin told BelTA. It is expected that the corresponding agreement on cooperation will be signed during an open dialogue entitled as Youth Unions: Different or Alike?, which is due to take place in Smolensk Oblast on 13-14...

Scientific progress is one of the driving forces of the country's development, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko told BelTA. "Our country cannot move forward without the development of science. Innovative projects, new technologies should form the lion's share of the gross value added of the Belarusian economy," the speaker is convinced. "Belarus has created a good scientific base. It includes the Academy of Sciences,...

Resident companies of the free economic zones in Belarus will be offered tax preferences to compensate for the losses as the Eurasian Economic Union abolishes the customs privileges as of 1 January 2017, Belarus Economy Minister Vladimir Zinovsky told reporters after the meeting with the head of state to discuss the development of the free economic zones. According to the minister, these compensatory measures are similar to those already adopted by the EEU partners. "Some 60% of the...

The city development plans of Vitebsk and Gomel have been revised for the period till 2025. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko signed corresponding decree No. 453 on 14 December, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader. The decree aims to determine the optimal planning structure and functional zoning of territories, set the priorities for the further development of the engineering and transport infrastructure, create safe, barrier-free and favorable environment...

The Vitebsk hydropower plant is now operating in test mode and has produced some electricity, BelTA learned from Yuri Mitskovets, Deputy Director General for Capital Construction at the Vitebsk Oblast electrical company Vitebskenergo, on 13 December. According to the source, virtually all the work to build the hydroengineering complex has been completed. All the equipment has been installed and is being tuned now. As part of the pre-commissioning procedures the first hydraulic aggregate...

Culture, tourism, and economy are the most promising avenues of advancing cooperation between Israel and Vitebsk Oblast, BelTA learned from Charge d'affaires of Israel to Belarus Olga Slov. Olga Slov said: "It is important for us to determine contact points and spheres of cooperation with Vitebsk Oblast. Particularly now — in anticipation of the arrival of the permanent ambassador of Israel to Belarus. He has been appointed and will soon get down to work. There are many areas that can...