8 May 2008
Small towns of Vitebsk oblast, Sweden implement joint projects
Delegations of Swedish towns Tranas, Odeshog, Aneby, and Ydre are studying possibilities of cooperation with small towns of the Vitebsk oblast. The delegations are visiting towns Disna and Obol and agro-town Bocheikovo today, Disna mayor Olga Moroz told BelTA. In late 2007 as part of the complex programme for developing regions, small and medium urban settlements were twinned with Tranas and Odeshog, agro-town Bocheikovo — Aneby, the village of Perebrodye — Ydre. Now the sides have got down to practical implementation of the agreement for cooperation between municipal authorities. In particular, the heating system of a boarding school in Disna will be modernised, sewer facilities will be reconstructed. Apart from that, the Swedish delegations will be made familiar with the local forestry enterprise. Apart from business contacts joint projects in culture, education, and rural tourism in Perebrodye will be discussed. The twinship relations helped establish partnering ties and business contacts between companies and agricultural cooperatives and will play a positive role in implementing the state programme for developing small urban communities, the Disna mayor is convinced. The project for cooperation between Belarusian and Swedish towns and villages was approved by and will be funded by the Swedish International Development Agency. Initially the Swedish side intends to invest around ?200,000.