Diveevo will host the anniversary Congress of Small Towns from August 13 to 15.

      July 27, 2026 17:55 Society V Congress of Small Towns (18+) of Nizhny Novgorod and Grodno Regions will take place in Diveevo from August 13 to 15. This year, the forum will be held in Diveevo - one of the main Orthodox centers of Russia. At the beginning of August, thousands of pilgrims from different regions of the country and abroad, including Belarus, traditionally come here. In anticipation of the congress, Belarusian journalists are visiting the Nizhny Novgorod region. As part of the press tour, they are getting acquainted with the history and modern development of the region, as well as the preparations for the upcoming forum. As reported by the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Evgeny Lyulin, at a press conference on July 27, the anniversary congress will continue the long-standing cooperation between the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the regions of Belarus.

      "Belarus ranks third among the international partners of the Nizhny Novgorod Region in terms of trade turnover - after China. Despite all the difficulties of recent years, the indicators continue to grow, with an increase of about 5% last year," he noted.

      According to Evgeny Lyulin, the interaction covers almost all spheres. One of the key areas remains machine engineering. For instance, the Gorky Automobile Plant uses components from almost 40 Belarusian enterprises, and about 70% of agricultural machinery operating in the fields of the Nizhny Novgorod Region is produced in Belarus. In addition, joint projects for the production of trams and electric buses are being implemented. Lyulin emphasized that the Nizhny Novgorod Region has signed cooperation agreements with all regions of Belarus. The parties regularly exchange legislative practices, hold joint meetings, and organize delegation exchanges. This work has laid the foundation for the project of small towns congresses.

      The congress program will include discussions on personnel policy in municipalities, economic development of territories, and youth engagement. An exhibition and a product fair are also planned. Participants will pay special attention to issues related to retaining youth in small towns and rural areas. Measures to support young specialists, housing provision, and the exchange of successful municipal practices will be discussed. At the same time, as Evgeny Lyulin emphasized, young people themselves will be involved in the discussions.

      It is expected that representatives from seven to eight municipalities of Belarus, as well as municipal entities of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, will participate in the V Congress of Small Towns. The final composition of the delegations will be known after their formation is completed. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.