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Strategic sessions on the development of regional sustainable development strategies were held in the regions of Belarus

In May–July 2024, strategic sessions on the development of regional sustainable development strategies were held in Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno and Minsk regions.

The main objectives of the strategic sessions were to formulate a vision of the future development of the regions and determine the main directions of sustainable development of the regions in the field of technological, innovative, investment development, green and circular economy, green urban planning.

A total of 368 people took part in the events, of which 54% were women. Among the participants were representatives of regional and district executive committees, industrial enterprises, public organizations, educational institutions, science, the private and banking sectors, SDG Youth Ambassadors.

The work of the strategic sessions was organized in the format of discussions in small groups. As part of the strategic sessions “Workshop of the Future”, participants identified challenges, growth points, weaknesses, strengths and opportunities for sustainable development of the regions. According to the general opinion of the session participants, by 2040 the regions of Belarus should be environmentally safe, attractive to young people, high-tech and innovative, and socially oriented. Brest and Grodno are regions with high tourist attractiveness, Brest also with sustainable agriculture, Gomel with high-tech industries.

Among the priority areas of the development for these regions, participants highlighted improving the quality of education with a focus on the needs of a particular region, creating of regional clusters, expanding of tourism and social infrastructure, increasing digital potential, creating favorable conditions for entrepreneurs, increasing innovation and investment activity and others.

Strategic sessions were held with the coordination of regional executive committees with the participation of experts from the Scientific Research Institute of the Ministry of Economy and with the support of the United Nations Development Programme in 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 Government of the Russian Federation.