On October 17-18, 2024, the XXV International Scientific Conference “Problems of Forecasting and State Regulation of Socio-Economic Development” was held in Minsk.
The event was attended by representatives of government bodies, academia, the business community, and international organizations.
The main goal of the Conference was to determine the priorities and mechanisms of state regulation of sustainable development in the new geopolitical and geoeconomic reality.
The First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Nikolai Snopkov addressed the conference participants with a welcoming speech.“Today, large-scale changes are taking place in the global, regional and national economies. In a very short time, we were forced to significantly revise our positions in the foreign economic sphere, take a new approach to the use of macroeconomic policy instruments, and reassess the reliability of international mechanisms”, – reported Nikolay Snopkov.He also emphasized the importance of uniting the efforts of government bodies, the scientific community and business to preserve the potential of the Belarusian economy and determine the prospects for its development. He expressed confidence that the recommendations developed during the Conference will help find ways to solve important problems in the interests of improving the quality of people’s life, stable and harmonious development of Belarus.
The National Coordinator for the Achieving of the Sustainable Development Goals, Deputy Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Khomenko addressed the conference participants with the welcoming speech. He noted that the endless series of crises and the complex web of connections of the modern world system are associated with a number of challenges affecting the Republic of Belarus.“Today, the entire country faces the task of adapting the economic system to new realities. Its solution requires hard work and high commitment from all members of society. At the same time, it is extremely important to formulate a well-thought-out program of action that would take into account our national characteristics, as well as external trends and threats. And in this, in my opinion, today’s event should help, – noted Sergey Khomenko. – The wide range of issues covered by the Conference clearly demonstrates that the country’s socio-economic development is not an isolated issue of one department, but the result of the coordinated work of all branches of government and state institutions”.Full text of the speech
In his welcoming speech, the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Belarus Yuri Chebotar emphasized: “Artificial intelligence, big data, robotics – this is already our reality. In such reality, we must build a new intellectual economy with our own technologies, and strong regions should become our competitive advantages. The core of the vision of the future of Belarus is the person as the main value. And our task is to create a developed, exemplary infrastructure for people’s life, and most importantly, their development and self-realization, regardless of their place of residence”.
The Chairperson of the Committee on Economic Policy and Strategic Planning of St. Petersburg, Anatoly Kotov, addressed the conference participants with a welcoming speech.“Our countries are successfully addressing issues of updating and implementing national strategies for sustainable development and solving technological security problems. The dialogue on regional development strategies began in St. Petersburg on October 10 as part of the XXII Forum of Strategists and will continue today as part of a discussion platform. I am confident that today’s event will be useful and meaningful for all its participants and will give new impetus to cooperation between our countries’, – said the Chairperson of the Committee.
Director of the Shanghai International Training Center CIFAL Wang Genxiang said in his welcoming speech: “In June this year, in Shanghai, we successfully held an event on regional economic development of Belarus, a training on cooperation, and established friendly relations of cooperation, which allowed us to gather today in Belarus to discuss the challenges facing the world and promote the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, social and economic development, cooperation and exchanges”.
The program of events of the International Scientific Conference included three discussion platforms: “Global matrix of strategic choice: challenges and risks for national economies”, “Technological security in a competitive environment: reality or utopia”, “Regional development strategies: localization of global and national goals”.
As part of the discussion platform “Regional development strategies: localization of global and national goals”, aimed at improving the methodological and practical aspects of regional development management, methodological approaches to the development of regional sustainable development strategies were presented, as well as proposals for regional sustainable development strategies of the Vitebsk, Grodno, Gomel and Minsk regions for the period up to 2040, developed with the assistance of UNDP within the framework of the project “Support to the Efforts of the Republic of Belarus in Nationalization and Localization of SDGs”.
Among the main strategic directions for regional development were named: overcoming negative demographic trends, reducing intra-regional differentiation and developing rural areas, ensuring environmental sustainability, efficient use of resources, and also the development of digitalization, entrepreneurship, innovation, active work with youth.
Head of the Main Directorate for Regional Development and Property Relations of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus Tatyana Andreeva presented approaches to assessing work on the accelerated development of districts and cities with a population of 80 thousand people or more and ways to improve them. She noted that during the formation of approaches to assessing the sustainable development of these regions and their implementation, it is necessary to take into account transparency for users. She also noted the fact that such approaches must correspond to the objectives of the country’s socio-economic development and be able to assess the implementation of accelerated development tasks as a whole.
In addition, the Conference program included a number of sectional sessions to discuss current issues of macroeconomic and foreign economic policy, development of the social sphere, increasing the competitiveness of the national economy through increased investment and innovation, strategies and mechanisms for regional development, and other issues.
Overall, based on the results of the discussion platforms and sectional sessions of the Conference, the participants support the priorities set out in the draft National Sustainable Development Strategy for the period up to 2040. In particular:
Considering the system-forming significance of the NSDS for the development of a five-year program for socio-economic development, it is necessary to ensure compliance with these priorities during the formation goals and objectives for 2026 – 2030.
The Conference also included a round table “Cooperation between the regions of Belarus and Russia: resources and development potential” with the participation of representatives of the central and regional authorities of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation.
The round table was the fourth and final event in a series of meetings on the development and practical implementation of the Program for cross-border cooperation of regions in the Union State, which took place within the framework of the 2024 Forum of Strategists in St. Petersburg on October 10–11 and the Conference in Minsk.
Participants of the round table got acquainted with the results of the Forum of Strategies – 2024 and previous meetings of the discussion cycle, prospects for completing the development and launch of the Program of cooperation between the regions of Belarus and Russia. Participants also exchanged their views on existing obstacles to full-fledged cooperation, ways to overcome them, available resources within the Union State of Belarus and Russia, and discussed approaches to interaction between the two countries in this area.
During the discussions, was also emphasized the importance and great potential of regional cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, which will be facilitated by further work on the development of Regional Sustainable Development Strategies of the Republic of Belarus, carried out with the support of the Joint Project “Support to the Efforts of the Republic of Belarus in Nationalization and Localization of SDGs”.
As a result of the meeting, the participants decided to draw up a final document of a series of discussions in St. Petersburg and Minsk for distribution among interested organizations.
The Conference events were organized with the support of UNDP within the framework of the Project “Support to the Efforts of the Republic of Belarus in Nationalization and Localization of SDGs”, funded by the Russian Federation.
The holding of the International Scientific Conference “Problems of Forecasting and State Regulation of Socio-Economic Development” contributes to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the Republic of Belarus.
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Prepared based on information from the telegram channel of the Research Institute of Economics of the Ministry of Economy
Good afternoon, dear participants
of the International Scientific Conference!
Let me warmly welcome you all to this anniversary event.
I will begin my speech with the words of the Soviet researcher Ivan Ivanovich Artobolevsky:
“The task of scientists is not only to develop scientific research, but also to fight for its use for the benefit of society, for the benefit of all people of the world”.
These words are the best for the work of the Research Economic Institute that has gathered us here today. Its interaction with the Ministry of Economy and other government bodies ensures a continuous circulation of ideas and proposals implemented into state economic policy.
The endless series of crises and the complex web of connections of the modern world system are associated with challenges and threats affecting, among other things, the Republic of Belarus. In addition to the economy, we can talk about growing risks in the social, technological and environmental spheres.
Today, the entire country faces the task of continuing to adapt the economic system to new realities that we are successfully cope with. Its solution requires hard work and high commitment from all members of society. At the same time, it is extremely important to formulate a well-thought-out program of action that would take into account our national characteristics, as well as external trends. And in my opinion, today’s event should contribute to this.
The wide range of issues covered by the Conference clearly demonstrates that the country’s socio-economic development is not an isolated issue of one department, but the result of the coordinated work of all branches of government and state institutions.
The strong position of the Institute of the Ministry of Economy contributes to the improvement of regional policy pursued by government bodies. Its specialists help to shape the new image of regions, focusing on their features and competitive advantages. This is eloquently demonstrated, among other things, by the results of the work of the members of the Council of the Republic, who receive citizens, hold meetings with the leadership and activists at the local level, highly evaluate the work being done to develop the regions and note the overall improvement in the quality of life.
Much is being done and planned for the coming period to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. The draft of the National Sustainable Development Strategy for the period up to 2040, presented for public discussion, defines the corresponding priorities and promising areas of work.
At the same time, in order to solve complex problems, it is important to maintain and constantly update mutually beneficial cooperation with colleagues from abroad. Today’s event is certainly a practical tool for building horizontal professional connections at the international level. I think that the experts from friendly countries present here will share their positive experience, which will allow us to take an objective look at the results of our activities.
I hope that the ideas and proposals developed during the event will find practical application and will contribute to the further development of Belarus.
On behalf of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and on my own behalf, I would like to congratulate the Research Economic Institute and all those present on the beginning of the jubilee, twenty-fifth International Scientific Conference and express gratitude for the initiative in promoting scientific knowledge to strengthen the economy of our country.
I wish you productive work and success.
Source of information
More about the XXV International Scientific Conference “Problems of Forecasting and State Regulation of Socio-Economic Development”
On October 16, 2024, a meeting of the intersectoral group on economic issues of the Council for Sustainable Development was held in Minsk, dedicated to discussing the draft National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2040 (NSDS-2040).
During the meeting, Deputy Minister of Economy Tatyana Brantsevich emphasized that the priorities of the NSDS-2040 project are aimed at maintaining a balance in three components: a strong economy, social responsibility, and environmental safety. She also noted that in developing the NSDS-2040 project was used a systematic approach.
«Firstly, the document is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. Secondly, the Strategy is based on national security priorities: demography, technological security and ecological balance. Thirdly, the document is based on the key project ideas of the Comprehensive Forecast of Scientific and Technological Progress until 2045, which increases its innovativeness, – reported Tatyana Brantsevich. – It is important to note that the development of the NSDS-2040 project was carried out in dialogue with all interested parties. During the year, a number of meetings, round tables, and foresight sessions were held at various venues, where global trends, risks, and new opportunities for our country were analyzed together with experts, scientists, and businesses. These productive discussions also provided valuable assistance in preparing the document».
On October 15-17, 2024, the UNECE Seminar and Expert Meeting on SDG Statistics is being held in Tirana (Republic of Albania).
During the Seminar on lessons learned from presenting statistical data on the SDGs, First Deputy Chairperson of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus Elena Kukharevich presented the experience of the Republic of Belarus in building an effective system for monitoring the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
She noted that the legislation updated in 2023 expanded the capabilities of state statistics agencies in obtaining data from state information systems and resources, including through remote access. Elena Kukharevich also reported that work is currently underway in Belarus to develop new and modernize existing information systems, which will make it possible to reuse data already collected in the country.“By using the provided tools, Belstat ensures the necessary data disaggregation and eliminates existing gaps. Thus, more than 40% of the indicators of the national list of the SDGs are calculated using administrative data, which significantly reduces the burden on respondents and data providers and allows saving money on obtaining the necessary information. At the same time, the widespread use of administrative data in the process of monitoring the SDGs requires monitoring their quality and assessing the reliability of the sources of such data”, – informed the First Deputy Chairperson.
In addition, Elena Kukharevich noted the successful experience of Belstat in working with non-traditional data sources to track the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. She reported that today 10 SDG indicators in the national list are calculated using spatial data, and for some indicators such sources have become the only way to obtain information.
“By successfully fulfilling the role of data curator, Belstat ensured that 70% of the indicators of the national list, calculated both directly by Belstat and by other government agencies responsible for the implementation of the SDGs, comply with the international methodology”, – summed up Elena Kukharevich.
Support for the participation of the Belarusian delegation in the UNECE Seminar and Expert Meeting on SDG Statistics was provided by UNDP within the framework of the Joint Project “Support to the Efforts of the Republic of Belarus in Nationalization and Localization of SDGs” funded by the Government of the Russian Federation.
Providing reliable and timely statistical information makes an important contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
From October 14 to 21, 2024, Belarus celebrates the Week of Parental Love. This is the time between two holidays – Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
Mother’s Day (October 14) is intended to support the traditions of caring for women and emphasize the importance of mothers in our lives. And Father’s Day (October 21) emphasizes the role of the father in raising a child and developing a new personality and is a starting point in rethinking the image of the father in society.
Among the most significant events that will take place as part of the Week of Parental Love — forum “Conversation about the important: a happy family – a strong state” (October 15), Republican round table “Healthy family – strong state” (October 18), dialogue platform “Fatherhood and career: how to combine?” (October 21), festival of family practices for children of preschool educational institutions and their parents “SUPER family”.
The Week also includes the finals of the following competitions: the family competition “Family! Let’s serve together!”, the creative competition among the media “A strong family is a strong state”, and the VI republican competition “Family of the Year” 2024.
The implementation of the events of the Week of Parental Love will contribute to the support and promotion of parenthood – one of the main components of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Why do young people worry about solving the world’s problems? Why do young people increasingly choose volunteering and social activities instead of social networks? What ambitious goals are young people setting for themselves now?
Yelizaveta Kashuba, SDG 3 Youth Ambassador, student of the Niasvizh State College named after Yakub Kolas, spoke about her vision of addressing global challenges and her contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.
How did you know about the activities of the SDG Youth Ambassadors?
I first heard about the SDGs and the activities of Youth Ambassadors in college from a teacher when the contest “Youth Ambassadors of the Sustainable Development Goals – the future of the planet is in our hands” was announced. As soon as I was asked to participate in the first phase of this contest, I began to learn more about what Youth Ambassadors do and about the SDGs in general.
Why did you decide to become the SDG Youth Ambassador and choose this particular Goal?
I was interested in the activities of the Youth Ambassadors because since my school days I have been an activist in both concert and social activities, so the chance to become an Ambassador was a new step, a new level for me. And since my first year in college, I have been a youth prevention squad leader, so, it didn’t take long to choose a Goal, because prevention is one of the SDG 3 indicators.
What role does the SDG Youth Ambassador play?
SDG Youth Ambassador is not just a spokesperson, but a liaison, an agent who performs quite a few tasks: from shaping people’s understanding of the SDGs to bringing people together to create a sustainable and equitable future. This is the person who can “in simple language” tell people about the 17 Goals approved by the UN through interesting and, most importantly, useful events and trainings.
Why is your Goal relevant in today’s world?
SDG 3 on good health and well-being is becoming particularly relevant in today’s world. The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the need for affordable health care for all. Lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders are becoming increasingly common, requiring a comprehensive approach to prevention and treatment. In addition, climate change and environmental issues are directly affecting people’s physical and mental well-being. Thus, the realization of this Goal is a critical factor in achieving sustainable development and the well-being of humankind in the future.
Is your Goal relevant for Belarus?
SDG 3 is one of the key Goals for sustainable development in Belarus. With today’s challenges, such as an aging population, an increase in chronic diseases, and the impact of environmental factors, a focus on health becomes particularly relevant. Vaccination, early detection and disease treatment programs help improve citizens’ health and quality of life. Also notable is the importance of mental health, which is increasingly coming to the forefront. The problems of stress, depression, and other mental disorders require careful attention and the development of educational and supportive programs.
In what areas are the activities of your Goal being realized?
I’ve already mentioned the prevention squad at my college, so it’s not hard to guess that I’m very active in preventing drug abuse, alcoholism, and smoking. Young people really like quick flash actions, which do not take much time, but participation in them gives both benefits and good mood, because we always try to come up with something new and interesting. I also pay enough attention to the aspect of maintaining mental health, organizing together with a psychologist training for guys, where they can learn self-control, self-acceptance and much more.
How do your activities contribute to youth development?
In fact, not many people in my community know about the SDGs, so my first task is to educate young people about them. In parallel, I am certainly doing my best to realize my SDG 3, thus encouraging the younger generation to follow a healthy lifestyle.
On November 15, 2024, the Republican Forum of Teachers of Additional Education for Children and Youth “Mosaic of ESD” will be held at Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank.
The main objective of the Forum is to generalize, examine and present the experience of teachers of additional education for children and youth in promoting the ideas and values of sustainable development among young people, as well as to promote the expansion of teachers’ skills in organizing ESD practices.
Teachers of additional education for children and youth, representatives of preschool and general secondary education institutions, and students of pedagogical specialties are invited to participate.
To participate in the Forum, you must fill out the registration form and send materials (articles) to the email address chubsdgs@gmail.com before October 31, 2024. All Forum materials will be combined into an electronic digest.
Requirements for the design of materials and detailed conditions for participation can be found in the information letter.
The event is held by the Coordination Center “Education for Sustainable Development” of the BSPU with the support of UNICEF and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus within the framework of the Joint Project “Support to the Efforts of the Republic of Belarus in Nationalization and Localization of SDGs” funded by the Russian Federation.
The holding of the Republican Forum of Teachers of Additional Education for Children and Youth “Mosaic of ESD” will contribute to the implementation of the Agenda for Sustainable Development until 2030.
From October 8 to November 26, 2024, a Hackathon for students of Belarusian universities to create startups for a “smart city” will be held in Belarus.
The creation of smart sustainable cities with a high standard and quality of life is one of the priority areas of digital development in Belarus and the main goal of the large-scale work being carried out in the country to implement the future project “Smart Cities of Belarus”.
More than 20 teams representing higher education institutions of Belarus are expected to participate in the Hackathon. They will be provided with online training on creating startups and meetings with mentors who will help them formulate their idea for a project, build a business model, make an MVP and present their startup.
The hackathon was organized by the International Telecommunication Union with the Belarusian State Academy of Telecommunications with the support of the Ministry of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus.
The Hackathon for creating startups for a “smart city” will contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 4, 8, 11 and the other SDGs by the Republic of Belarus.
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