OREANDA-NEWS. December 07, 2010. National priorities for the future five years are three ‘I’ – Initiative, Innovation and Investment, Alexander Yakobson, chairman of the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee, said at the Fourth All-Belarus People’s Congress.

Human development is impossible without initiative, the modernization of production - without innovation, and sustainable regional development - without investment. “All that we have already achieved and will achieve in the future lay the foundation for ensuring high standards and quality of life,” said Alexander Yakobson. He is confident that Gomel Oblast is ready for a great creative work in the new five-year period.

Belarus has chosen its own model of development based on balanced and thoughtful reforms. “We are talking now about building a highly-developed state with a knowledge-based economy, all-round upgrade of the manufacturing industry. Such problems cannot be solved without the main character - the Belarusian people because only well-educated modern-minded, talented people can create the knowledge-based economy,” the Gomel Oblast governor believes.

Stable and consistent development of Belarus is the main thing for the country and people. Thanks to the everyday diligent work the country has become an island of peace and order. “The state for the people is not just a slogan, but the priority of the authorities, its law in their work. That is why we have made significant progress in many areas and now live in a prosperous civilized country,” Alexander Yakobson said.

He added that Gomel Oblast, with its powerful industrial potential, has always contributed to the country’s development. Technical upgrade of companies has always been on top of the agenda. Scrupulous attention was also attached to development of business initiative in the real production sector. This year Gomel Oblast has hit its historic high in housing construction. One third of new houses have been built in rural areas.

According to the Gomel Oblast Governor, in the near-term the focus will be made on further improvement of small towns and villages, road network, development of towns-satellites. “Only by improving living conditions in small towns and villages, we will be able to ease the situation in the oblast capital which is home to one third of the population of the region,” Alexander Yakobson said.

The Pripyat Polesie development program initiated by the head of state will bring dramatic changes into this unique place. “Its first results have already inspired the residents of the region. Polesie people are fully determined to fulfill the targets envisaged in the program,” the governor said.

“Joint efforts to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe demonstrate that we can deal with any problem. We have not only survived the Chernobyl disaster but also mobilized the efforts to revive the territories,” Alexander Yakobson said.