First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov told reporters how regional development will continue in Belarus in the spirit of the One District – One Project initiative.
According to the first deputy prime minister, the One District – One Project program is now practically over. Of the 217 projects included in the program, 144 have been implemented. The remaining projects are planned to be implemented in 2026-2028.
Nikolai Snopkov emphasized that the current five-year period envisages a mechanism for supporting investment projects. It is called the Regional Initiative. It differs from the One District – One Project initiative: the Council of Ministers will no longer approve specific lists.
“There will be a list submitted proactively to the Economy Ministry. It will be compiled, monitored, modeled, and sent for financing to state banks by the Economy Ministry,” the first deputy prime minister explained. “Projects need to have concrete applications in concrete districts. Apart from that, the projects have to be initiated and needed by the district itself and by the oblast. These are not projects that are forced upon. These are mature initiatives. Apart from that, it is necessary to focus on projects where competences of Belarusians are as deep and as developed as possible.”
In this manner work on supporting investment projects will continue within the framework of the Regional Initiative. Nikolai Snopkov stressed that the basic goal remains the same: to develop district capitals and agrotowns, to stop the exodus of people from the regions.
