An infrastructure project to provide international technical aid in Grodno Oblast will receive a boost of approximately $1.66 million from the European Union.

Ecorys Nederland BV (Netherlands) is the lead on this project.

Belarus is putting an application together for a pilot project contest, according to Yelena Dzhukh, coordinator of the international technical aid project for supporting development. While there is freedom in the design of the project, it must be of ecological and social importance to the region. The project must be designed with infrastructure and manufacturing in mind – in order to boost sustainable development in Belarus, but beyond that, there are options. The project can be undertaken in several sectors – housing and public utilities, energy, forestry, agriculture and processing, tourism or transport.

“We know that applications are already being received," Dzhukh said. "For instance, there are plans to use the money to build a therapeutic horse riding center for children with limited abilities near Grodno. However, we would like as many government agencies and public institutions as possible to take part in the contest.”

Grodno Oblast started creating a local agenda and sustainable development plan in summer 2014, with a local group working to create the plan. Residents of Grodno Oblast are invited to provide feedback on the future of the oblast.

The coordinators of this specific project would like to see feedback from a wide range of individuals – scientists, business, youths and members of public and social institutions included – to increase the involvement of the people in this type of public improvement project.

There is funding of $10.22 million planned for similar projects in the republic. The project is scheduled to begin this year and wrap up in August of 2016.