Igor Sergeenko and parliamentarians from the Vitebsk region met with the region's active members
Caring for people is the main focus of the legislative and executive branches of government. This was discussed at a meeting between the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, Igor Sergeenko, and the parliamentarians elected from different regions of the Vitebsk region, with the Vitebsk region's active members.
As Igor Sergeenko noted, this format of the event, involving legislators delegated by the region's residents and local authorities, is quite effective.
– It is important to exchange views, to discuss current issues of joint work between the executive branch and the deputy corps of the Vitebsk region, – emphasized the Chairman of the House of Representatives.
The parliamentarians' program includes participation in a meeting of the regional executive committee, where issues of strengthening public safety and discipline were raised, a visit to LLC "Management Company of Holding "Belarusian Leather and Footwear Company "Marko", familiarization with the "Vitebsk" Cultural Center, and a final discussion with the region's active members.
During the visit to the largest footwear enterprise, issues related to light industry enterprises were raised.
In particular, the founder of the "Marko" company, Nikolai Martynov, informed about the holding's operations in the current economic conditions. By the way, the company is as old as the institution of the president in our country – the "Marko" brand appeared in 1994. Over the past three decades, a small shoe factory has grown into a holding company that includes 6 enterprises. About 4,000 people work here. Annually, 3.5 million pairs of shoes come off the assembly line. 96 brand stores have been opened in Belarus and 45 in Russia. For the first ten months of the current year, the growth rate of production volumes was 119%, and exports increased. However, these figures could have been higher if not for a number of problems that genuinely hinder the development of production and prevent successful competition in foreign markets.
Specifically, this refers to Government Decree No. 713 concerning price regulation and unequal conditions for Russian producers, who gain a competitive advantage due to differences in electricity prices.
Deputy Chairperson of the Regional Executive Committee Anzhelika Nikitina emphasized that 25% of Belarus's light industry is located in the Vitebsk region. These enterprises are energy-intensive, and a significant portion of their expenses is allocated to energy costs. Reducing the cost per kilowatt-hour would alter the production cost, and the freed-up funds could be directed towards employee salaries and modernization.
– We are forced to purchase equipment and some components from distant countries, which leads to payment issues and increased logistics costs, – explained Nikolai Martynov.
These issues, as noted by the speaker of the lower house of parliament, require resolution at both the legislative and governmental levels.
Igor Sergeenko visited the workshops, familiarized himself with the specifics of the technological process, and communicated with the work collective.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives focused on the social orientation of our state's policy.
Enterprise employees were interested in which laws are most difficult for deputies to adopt, whether it is possible to visit the Government House on an excursion, and which achievements of our country the speaker considers most significant.
– Preserving the independence of Belarus. We managed to preserve an economy that was collapsing under the rubble of the Union, and today we can say that our country is strong and economically developed, – noted Igor Sergeenko.
The people's representatives familiarized themselves with the reconstruction of the "Vitebsk" concert hall, attended rehearsals of some ensembles, and then gathered in the round hall of the cultural institution to summarize the results of the working trip with the region's active members and outline the main directions of activity.
– We reviewed socio-political, social, and legislative issues, and work with citizens' appeals. Emphasis is placed on the importance of joint actions by deputies and the executive branch. Deputies represent the interests of the population; each represents 50-60 thousand voters. This meeting is a kind of time check after ten months of work by the people's representatives, – noted Igor Sergeenko.
The speaker added that all 14 deputies elected from the Vitebsk region are actively working in parliament on draft laws and in the regions, demonstratinginitiative, gain experience in public activities. In September of the current year, the second session opened, and 21 bills have been adopted during this period, including a draft of the new version of the law on veterans, which provides for additional social benefits and guarantees for participants of the Great Patriotic War, former prisoners of fascism, and internationalist soldiers who took part in combat operations outside of Belarus. Amendments have been made to the Education Code, and a bill on state registration of real estate has been adopted. The budget for 2025 will be considered in the near future.
One of the main areas of interaction between the parliamentary corps and local authorities is working with citizens' appeals. Their number has increased recently, which indicates that people trust their deputies. It is important that this work is carried out systematically and conscientiously, emphasized Igor Sergeenko. After all, parliamentarians are evaluated by the people who cast their votes for their representatives.
As Igor Sergeenko noted, this format of the event, involving legislators delegated by the region's residents and local authorities, is quite effective.
– It is important to exchange views, to discuss current issues of joint work between the executive branch and the deputy corps of the Vitebsk region, – emphasized the Chairman of the House of Representatives.
The parliamentarians' program includes participation in a meeting of the regional executive committee, where issues of strengthening public safety and discipline were raised, a visit to LLC "Management Company of Holding "Belarusian Leather and Footwear Company "Marko", familiarization with the "Vitebsk" Cultural Center, and a final discussion with the region's active members.
During the visit to the largest footwear enterprise, issues related to light industry enterprises were raised.
In particular, the founder of the "Marko" company, Nikolai Martynov, informed about the holding's operations in the current economic conditions. By the way, the company is as old as the institution of the president in our country – the "Marko" brand appeared in 1994. Over the past three decades, a small shoe factory has grown into a holding company that includes 6 enterprises. About 4,000 people work here. Annually, 3.5 million pairs of shoes come off the assembly line. 96 brand stores have been opened in Belarus and 45 in Russia. For the first ten months of the current year, the growth rate of production volumes was 119%, and exports increased. However, these figures could have been higher if not for a number of problems that genuinely hinder the development of production and prevent successful competition in foreign markets.
Specifically, this refers to Government Decree No. 713 concerning price regulation and unequal conditions for Russian producers, who gain a competitive advantage due to differences in electricity prices.
Deputy Chairperson of the Regional Executive Committee Anzhelika Nikitina emphasized that 25% of Belarus's light industry is located in the Vitebsk region. These enterprises are energy-intensive, and a significant portion of their expenses is allocated to energy costs. Reducing the cost per kilowatt-hour would alter the production cost, and the freed-up funds could be directed towards employee salaries and modernization.
– We are forced to purchase equipment and some components from distant countries, which leads to payment issues and increased logistics costs, – explained Nikolai Martynov.
These issues, as noted by the speaker of the lower house of parliament, require resolution at both the legislative and governmental levels.
Igor Sergeenko visited the workshops, familiarized himself with the specifics of the technological process, and communicated with the work collective.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives focused on the social orientation of our state's policy.
Enterprise employees were interested in which laws are most difficult for deputies to adopt, whether it is possible to visit the Government House on an excursion, and which achievements of our country the speaker considers most significant.
– Preserving the independence of Belarus. We managed to preserve an economy that was collapsing under the rubble of the Union, and today we can say that our country is strong and economically developed, – noted Igor Sergeenko.
The people's representatives familiarized themselves with the reconstruction of the "Vitebsk" concert hall, attended rehearsals of some ensembles, and then gathered in the round hall of the cultural institution to summarize the results of the working trip with the region's active members and outline the main directions of activity.
– We reviewed socio-political, social, and legislative issues, and work with citizens' appeals. Emphasis is placed on the importance of joint actions by deputies and the executive branch. Deputies represent the interests of the population; each represents 50-60 thousand voters. This meeting is a kind of time check after ten months of work by the people's representatives, – noted Igor Sergeenko.
The speaker added that all 14 deputies elected from the Vitebsk region are actively working in parliament on draft laws and in the regions, demonstratinginitiative, gain experience in public activities. In September of the current year, the second session opened, and 21 bills have been adopted during this period, including a draft of the new version of the law on veterans, which provides for additional social benefits and guarantees for participants of the Great Patriotic War, former prisoners of fascism, and internationalist soldiers who took part in combat operations outside of Belarus. Amendments have been made to the Education Code, and a bill on state registration of real estate has been adopted. The budget for 2025 will be considered in the near future.
One of the main areas of interaction between the parliamentary corps and local authorities is working with citizens' appeals. Their number has increased recently, which indicates that people trust their deputies. It is important that this work is carried out systematically and conscientiously, emphasized Igor Sergeenko. After all, parliamentarians are evaluated by the people who cast their votes for their representatives.