Business news

GOMEL, 20 May (BelTA) - Investment documents worth over $300 million have been signed during the Gomel Economic Forum, BelTA has learned.

The agreements and protocols of intent were signed by Chairman of the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee Vladimir Dvornik and representatives of business from China, Russia, Ukraine, Austria, Germany, and Belarus.

According to the documents, several major investment projects will be implemented in the region in the near future. The projects include the construction of a crushed stone plant in Lelchitsy District; a viscose staple fiber facility for 350 jobs at OAO Svetlogorsk Khimvolokno; a plant to manufacture innovative new decorative insulating materials in Gomel.

Two major projects in the meat industry are to be carried our in Buda-Koshelevo and Petrikov Districts. In Svetlogorsk District an investor intends to build a shopping center (for 100 jobs). Comfortable waiting areas will be built in two major crossing points on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border. They will be equipped with a e-border queuing system, recreation zones and catering facilities.

When addressing the participants of the forum, Vladimir Dvornik noted that the signing of agreements and protocols is not the only goal of the forum. First of all, it is a landmark event in the business life of the region and opens the door for investors to the region. “I am happy to say that the number and quality of investment projects we submit at the forum increase from year to year. Most importantly, increasing is the real impact of the forum in the form of new businesses, jobs and most importantly, better living standards of people,” he stressed.

The 13^th Gomel Economic Forum which opened in the regional capital on 20 May has gathered a record number of participants: almost 300 delegates from 29 countries. Among the participants are official delegations, members of embassies, workers of banking and financial establishments, businessmen. Interest in the forum was shown from highly developed countries such as China, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, and Austria. For the first time, the event in Gomel is attended by representatives of Ireland, Croatia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Syria. Over 600 people attended the plenary meting, which continued the work in five sections.