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The heads of the National Agency of Investment and Privatization and the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange, in a meeting held on 14 January 2020, discussed opportunities to develop collaboration in attracting foreign businesses interested to enter the Belarusian market via the exchange’s e-platform.

NAIP and BUCE plan to organize joint business events in and outside Belarus with the aim to promote exchange trading instruments and strengthen our country’s commerce and investment potential.

“Every year we receive hundreds of foreign business delegations representing various business sectors: from wood processing and construction to logistics and manufacturing. All these companies need, firstly, reliable partners among Belarusian companies and, secondly, raw materials and technological equipment for the implementation of investment projects. The exchange can meet both of these needs. In this regard, we would like to include a visit to your organization as a mandatory item in the programs of business visits scheduled for the current year. In my opinion, this will benefit all parties concerned,” NAIP Director Dmitry Krasouski said.

BUCE Chairman of the Board Aleksandr Osmolovsky confirmed the readiness to unite efforts with NAIP in organization of business forums, conferences, seminars and other events to enhance foreign economic relations of Belarus, including necessary information and financial support.

The Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange was founded in 2004. Its first trading session was held in June 2005. BUCE is one of the largest commodity exchanges in Eastern Europe. The exchange assists Belarusian companies with exports of metal, forestry and agricultural products, industrial and consumer goods, as well as renders support to foreign companies in entering the Belarusian market.

National Agency of Investment and Privatization and the international company TRANSPROEKT Group will unite efforts to promote mechanisms of public-private partnership (PPP) for investment projects in Belarus aimed at the enhancement of social infrastructure.

A relevant agreement on strategic partnership was signed on 13 January 2020 during an online meeting with participation of Mr. Dzmitry Krasouski, NAIP Director and Mr. Vitaly Maksimov, Chairman of the Board of TRANSPROEKT Group, CEO of TRANSPROEKT Overseas.

The document provides for mutual consultative assistance, joint elaboration of draft policy papers, development of measures to support private investors, as well as formulation of proposals on further improvement of national legislation in the sphere of PPP in Belarus.

In the course of the meeting NAIP Director Dzmitry Krasouski confirmed the Agency’s interest in supporting business initiatives for the development of infrastructure in Belarus. He also emphasized that the Agency is open to cooperate with TRANSPROEKT Group not only in terms of PPP, but also within other formats of investment attraction in the future areas of growth.

“Joint work is impossible without a pragmatic approach of both sides towards the implementation of concrete projects, as well as reliance on the mechanism of private-public partnership which has no alternatives when it comes to development of social infrastructure. Previous successful experience will just support us, whereas challenges faced by our countries can only be addressed through joint efforts to result in a modern and advanced transport, engineering and social infrastructure of the Republic of Belarus,” Vitaly Maksimov said.

TRANSPROEKT Group is a non-governmental development institution which specializes in attraction and management of investments in the comprehensive and sustainable development of territories through mechanisms of PPP and concession agreements in the Russian Federation and CIS. Since 2012, its international division TRANSPROEKT Overseas, LLC takes part in the efforts to create conducive conditions for utilization of PPP mechanisms in Belarus.

On 10 December 2020, Deputy Director Palina Toustsik participated in the third Business Forum devoted to the development of an innovative industrial cluster in the field of biotechnologies and “green economy” held at Polessky State University.

During the forum Deputy Director has visited the exhibition of innovative produce by participating companies, conducted substantive talks on potential avenues for cooperation between the Agency and the represented companies with the aim to seek and attract investments in the sphere of biotechnologies and “green economy”.

A project on cultivating paulownia tomentosa (one of the fastest growing plants in the world) currently  under development at the laboratory for DNA and cell technologies in crop farming and livestock breeding has sparked a particular interest.

An Agreement on Cooperation was signed between the National Agency of Investment and Privatization and the “Polesye Technology Park” LLC to pave the way towards relevant bilateral collaboration and further promotion of conducive investment climate in Belarus.

In the framework of the forum P.Toustsik also held a presentation on Agency’s activities and advantages of using Investor’s Roadmap interactive portal for the purpose of seeking investors.

Deputy Director, accompanied by Mr. Nikolay Kruchinsky, Provost for Academic Affairs and Doctor of Medical Science, has also reviewed the university’s science and technology facilities, including the laboratory where advanced research in genetics and immunology are being carried out.

On 9 December 2020, the leadership of the National Agency of Investment and Privatization, accompanied by Mr. Dmitry Rudchenko, Chairman of FEZ “Minsk” administration and Mr. Piotr Filipovich, Deputy Chairman for Investment and Legal Activity, visited site No 1 (Shabany), site No 2 (Privolny) and site No 10 (Fanipol) of this preferential regime’s territory.

The potential, dynamics and prospects for further development of the free economic zone were reviewed during the visit with particular focus on the expansion and enhancement of this territory’s infrastructure, creation of new workplaces and efficient utilization of available land plots.

Upon the meeting, the participants agreed to re-energize the collaboration between NAIP and FEZ “Minsk” administration in the framework of Belarus investment attractiveness promotion and support of initiatives by Belarusian and foreign businesses.

On 7 December 2020, NAIP leadership participated in the General Assembly meeting of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) which was held virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

WAIPA activities results of 2019-2020 were reviewed and key activity areas for 2021 were presented during the event. The decision to bring WAIPA’s headquarters from Istanbul back to Geneva was also made following a voting by attending Member IPAs.

World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) is a non-governmental organization established in 1995 with the aim to develop cooperation, share experience and exchange information between investment promotion agencies. WAIPA offices are currently located in Istanbul and Geneva.

In the framework of the XXI International Scientific Conference «Challenges of Forecasting and Public Regulation of the Socio-Economic Development» a round table «Territorial Marketing as a Tool for the Regional Development of Belarus» was held online on October 23, organized by the Economy Research Institute of the Ministry of Economy in partnership with the National Agency of Investment and Privatization.

While moderating the discussion, First Deputy Director of NAIP Mr. Dmitry Berezovski noted the event’s practical nature which aims to render assistance to regions in identifying their factors of growth, formulating optimal development strategies and generating projects and ideas for public and private investments.

During the event over 40 representatives of regional executive authorities, scientific research and non-commercial organizations and the expert community got acquainted with the results of the research on the potential of towns and regions with the population of over 80 thousand people, explored the Belarusian and international experience in implementing destination branding projects, as well as exchanged views on concrete tools for applying territorial marketing technologies in our country, the ways to address existing challenges and on possible sources of financing those initiatives.

The vibrant round-table discussion resulted in a common understanding of the significance to revitalize local initiatives for the elaboration and subsequent implementation of the most promising and viable areas of regional development with particular focus on regions’ individual characteristics. 

NAIP delegation took part in the Russian Industry Week held from 19 through 22 October 2020 in Moscow where several significant sectoral exhibitions and forums were brought under one roof in the framework of the cross-sector platform «STI Expo» (Science-Technology-Innovation Expo).

Among the events were International Polytechnic Exhibition of Equipment and Technologies for Construction Materials Processing «Technoforum-2020», Woodworking Exhibition «Lesdrevmash-2020» and International Exhibition for Welding and Cutting Equipment, Technologies and Materials «Rusweld-2020».

Conditions, opportunities and advantages of doing business in Belarus were presented during the II Forum of Russian Forestry Machine-Building organized at «Lesdrevmash-2020».

From 29 September through 2 October 2020, National Agency of Investment and Privatization took part in the Belarusian Industrial and Investment Forum and the International Specialized Exhibition “BELAGRO-2020”.

At the joint stand of NAIP and Great Stone Industrial Park, events’ participants and guests could explore advantages of Belarus’ investment climate, as well as discover Agency’s capabilities to render comprehensive assistance to investors.

During the expert discussion “Talks with Investors. Investing in Smart Industries in EAEU & Eastern Partnership Countries” which took place on 30 September in the framework of Smart Industry Expo, NAIP Director Dzmitry Krasouski presented the potential of public-private partnership as an alternative source of investment in digital transformation of the national economy.

Amid the growing significance of global food security, adoption of innovative technologies in agriculture was high on the agenda at “BELAGRO”.

Major aspects of digitalization in agriculture and investment attraction for the development of this sector were in focus of the forum “Investment, Innovation and Export Potential of Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering Industry of Belarus”, organized by NAIP on October 1.

In his presentation NAIP Director D.Krasouski highlighted key trends for the world economy’s development, showcased unique online tools of the interactive online portal “Investor’s Roadmap”aimed to offer informational support to businesses, elaborated on region’s investment potential and familiarized guests with Agency’s latest analytical research materials.

An Agreement of Cooperation between NAIP and “ASB Consult” LLC was also signed on the sidelines of the forum with the purpose to develop collaboration in consultative support of investment activities in Belarus.

Practical experience, modern approaches and prospective areas for cooperation in the sphere of investment activities promotion were reviewed on September 28, 2020 during the meeting of NAIP leadership with Mr. Vyacheslav Fedyunin, Acting CEO of Pskov Region Investment Development Agency.

An Agreement on Cooperation between the two agencies aimed to enhance investment attractiveness of the Republic of Belarus and the Pskov Region of the Russian Federation was also signed in the scope of the event.

In particular, the parties agreed to create favorable conditions for mutual investment attraction, development and implementation of joint projects, as well as to exchange information on conditions for doing business, investment opportunities and available investment projects, in addition to collective participation in seminars, conferences, forums and other investment-related events.

On September 25, 2020 an expert discussion on the role, key development areas and ways to implement territorial marketing in Belarus took place at the National Agency of Investment and Privatization with support of Center of Strategic Development «Marketing Systems».

The event saw participation of representatives of NAIP leadership, top Belarusian universities, Economy Research Institute of the Ministry of Economy, Republican Public Association “Belarusian Union of Transport Professionals” and Center of Strategic Development «Marketing Systems».

The meeting resulted in a mutual agreement to continue joint efforts aimed at elaboration of optimal tools to implement territorial marketing’s best practices for the purpose of Belarus’ regions attractiveness promotion.

Territorial marketing – a special type of management activities aimed to create and support the image, realize social and economic potential, promote investment attractiveness and enhance competitiveness of a certain territory (country, region, district, city, etc.).