Course summary Doing Business in Belarus:
Doing Business in Belarus. Economic profile of Belarusian regions: Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno and Mogilev. Union State
Belarus has enjoyed a strong economic growth since its independence in
1992, with its export-led development carefully managed to balance growth
with social responsibility. For industrial resources of potassium salts Belarus
occupies one of the first places in Europe. Potash fertilizer is a major export
product for the republic. By the volume of flax fibre production the republic
numbers among the first five producing countries worldwide. Industry occupies
29%, agriculture 9% and construction 12% in the sector-focused structure of
gross domestic product. 55% of the working population are employed in the
services sector and 26% in industry.
The majority of investment (FDI) came from
EU states (43%) and
Russia (33%). In 2009 among the major
investors were Russia (82.5 %), Switzerland (7.3%), Cyprus (2.2%) and Germany
(1.1%).
Main Business Partners of Belarus: Russia, Ukraine, Netherlands, Germany,
China, Poland, Venezuela, United
Kingdom, Latvia and Italy.
Minsk, the industrial centre of the Republic of Belarus, is
specialized in the economic system of the Republic in such fields like industry,
construction, science and scientific services. Minsk enterprises give 1/5 of the
total volume of the industrial production of the country. Industry within the
city is diverse in nature. The main branches are:
- food production
- light industry
- motor industry
- tractor manufacturing
- machine-tool construction
- metal working
- instrument making
- radio engineering and electronic equipment manufacturing
Near 60% of this production are exported abroad. The basic industrial
export positions are tractors, camions, metal-working machine-tools,
refrigerators, TV sets, moto-cycles and bicycles. Minsk products are exported to
more than 100 countries of the world. The volume of foreign trade in 2008 was
USD 29,5 billions including USD 10,4 billions for export.
The main consumers of Minsk products are in Russia, Ukraine, Baltic States,
Poland, Germany, Pakistan, and
Kazakhstan.
Example of the course Doing Business in Belarus:
Brest region is the «western gates » of the country – situated in the
centre of Europe on the south east of Belarus. The Brest region has one of the
most developed transport infrastructures in Belarus. The main industries are:
light industry, food processing, timber, engineering, building and stone
production.
The Vitebsk region is one of the major industrial areas of Belarus, with
30% of the workforce employed by industrial companies.
Gomel oblast is an attractive region for foreign investments as it has
favourable geographical situation and mild climate, high scientific-industrial
potential and well-developed agricultural industry. The Gomel region is one of
the most advanced industrial regions in Belarus. There are about 300 medium and
large enterprises, which between them account for 24.1% of the total industrial
output of the Republic of Belarus. Approximately 70% of all production is
exported, and Gomel enjoys trading links with more than 100 countries.
The chemical industry dominates production in the Grodno region, with
large production facilities in Grodno and Lida.
The Mogilev region is one of the major industrial centres of Belarus. The
main industrial centres are in Mogilev and Bobruisk. There is a free economic
zone in Mogilev.
Production Association "Gomselmash" is a multi profile manufacturer,
producing technologically interrelated line of agricultural technique for
cultivating and harvesting of main crops using the modern agrarian technologies.
The company has a branch in Argentina
and permanent representation of the company in China. Joint production
facilities for manufacturing of grain-harvesting technique are founded in
Republic of Tatarstan (Russian Federation) and Kazakhstan.
The confectionery factory Spartak is the greatest manufacturer of sweets
in Belarus. «Spartak» candies can be bought not only in every part of Belarus
but also in big cities of USA, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Greece and in
other countries of the world.
The Union State (Russia and Belarus). The strategic partnership with
Russia stems from their geographic location, close historic and cultural links
between both countries and peoples, economic ties and co-operation between the
Belarusian and Russian businesses.
Belarus share with Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine. The capital is
the city of Minsk. Languages spoken in Belarus: Belarusian and Russian.
The EU has suspended moves towards closer economic partnership with Belarus
until political and civil conditions improve
EENI International Business
Course learning materials: 
