In Vitebsk region will develop a new scheme of trade services for rural settlements

At the meeting of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee on September 24, the effectiveness of measures taken by the district executive committees to improve the quality of trade services to the population was analyzed. Emphasis was placed on the organization of trade in rural areas and, in particular, small settlements. It's from sb.by.

Providing villagers with essential goods is a key factor in the quality of life, which the Head of State has repeatedly pointed out, Deputy Head of the Main Department of Trade and Services of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexei Bogachev said during a press approach:

- On the territory of Vitebsk region there are more than 6 thousand rural settlements. For comparison: in Brest or Gomel regions there are slightly more than 2 thousand. At the same time, less than 10 people live in one in three of our villages. Of course, all this affects the complexity of the organization of trade services. Today and for many years, consumer cooperation remains the main operator in the village. Despite the fact that this activity is often low-efficiency, and sometimes unprofitable, which affects the situation of cooperation and, accordingly, commodity saturation in objects of trade. Today, an alternative to consumer cooperation is being created. Republican and regional trade operators, processing enterprises, small businesses are actively involved.

In the Vitebsk region there are more than 800 shops and pavilions. Also, more than a hundred car stores provide services to rural residents. At the same time, commercial objects of consumer cooperation occupy only a quarter of the total number of objects. The situation with auto stores is the opposite: 3⁄4 of all auto stores belong to consumer cooperative enterprises.

The head of state in August of this year signed Decree No. 277, which creates conditions for attracting large retail chains to organize delivery trade in rural areas, Alexey Bogachev continued:

- Today, at the meeting of the regional executive committee, a scheme for servicing the rural population of the region for the near future will be determined. Measures will also be developed that will create a fair social burden for all business entities, and, most importantly, improve the quality of trade services.