Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 15 May (BelTA) – Belarus’ new national sustainable social and economic development strategy will be a key instrument in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Belarus’ Deputy Economy Minister Alexander Chervyakov said at a roundtable held in Minsk on 15 May to discuss partnership in the development and application of indicators for achieving the SDGs, BelTA informs.

“One of the key tools to implement the SGDs within such a long time span, some 10-15 years, is a national strategy. A public council was set up at the Research Economic Institute Last year. Its primary goal is to analyze the implementation of the provisions of the current national strategy. The report will be ready in late June - early July 2018. Its second task is to choose indicators for a new national strategy,” said Alexander Chervyakov.

The system of indicators will be formed according to two key directions: based on global SDG indicators and on national priorities, goals and objectives.

A new approach is envisaged in the development of the national strategy. “First of all, a working group has been set up under alongside with its coordinating council. It comprised the economy minister, the national coordinator for achieving the sustainable development goals, three sectoral group leaders. Secondly, three subgroups were set up on key areas: environment, economics and man. The subgroups comprised representatives of state bodies, public organizations, business, and science,” Alexander Chervyakov said.

Together with the Public Council, the Economy Ministry is expected to work out several key elements: possible conditions for development through 2035, a description of the outlook for the country, and a platform for macro indicators. The sectoral groups will formulate the concept of a development strategy in their areas, and the Economy Ministry will combine these proposals into a draft version of the national strategy. The final wording of the document, formulated by the working group, will be submitted for public hearings.