Business news

Lukashenko: No reason for Russia to fear Belarus’ presence in its information space
The head of state noted that Russian journalists are probably better professionals, but they have something to learn from their Belarusian colleagues in terms of integrity, content and value of materials. “We have never let ourselves infringe on Russia’s interests by showing some things and omitting others"...

Lukashenko: The future belongs to advanced technologies
According to the head of state, Belarus applies advanced technologies in all spheres of life, is developing nuclear energy and space technologies. “They are applied in healthcare and education,” Alexander Lukashenko said...

No plans for Belarusian human spaceflight mission yet
Alexander Lukashenko said: “We have not yet thought about launching a manned spacecraft of our own. We may reach this point at some point in the future. It cannot be done for image building only. The project needs to recoup some of the costs. I think building a spacecraft together with Russians or Europeans or Americans would not be a problem. Whether we need it or not is the question"...

Lukashenko promises to sort out problems with delivery of farm equipment to Russia
Belarusian equipment is often sold via mediators in Belarus, the President remarked. “You are saying that many people sell this equipment, but not many people provide service maintenance,” he said. The head of state assured that he will sort out the problems with the delivery and maintenance of Belarusian agricultural equipment to Russia...

Belarus president against splitting utilities industry for privatization
"It turned out that in the past people used to pay 30% of the cost of utilities and the state budget compensated for 70% of the costs. Right after these calculations were made, it turned out that people pay 52%. A nearly two-time increase. Can you imagine how private companies would be able to fiddle with these prices? Who controls them?” wondered the head of state...

Belarus ready to supply as much food as needed to Russia
“For us Russia is the premium market today. The Russian leadership requests us to supply certain amount, especially during the autumn-winter period. We even redirect exports from other markets in favor of Russia,” the head of state noted...

Average salary to reach $500 in Belarus next year
However, a commensurable growth in labor productivity is needed for raising salaries. “Labor productivity is a priority,” the head of state emphasized. “Labor productivity has a direct impact on salaries. Private and state-owned enterprises and companies should be encouraged to pay more attention to this issue”...

Lukashenko: No equal conditions for economic entities in Belarus, Russia so far
"To compete on your market, on our common market, we have to cut down on all our expenditures, including wages. Because of that, the taxes are lower, the military whose work is to protect our common space are paid less, and so on,” Alexander Lukashenko noted...

Belarus seeks closer ties with Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast
According to the head of state, there are no problems in the mutual relations between Belarus and Kaliningrad Oblast. A big number of Belarusians live in that Russian region...

Belarus, Russia's Pskov Oblast enjoy growth in mutual trade
Andrei Turchak stated that the trade between Belarus and Pskov Oblast increased in a number of positions. The areas demonstrating an upward trend include agriculture and the sector of building materials...

Turkish investments in Grodno Oblast past $10m so far this year
“I am convinced that cooperation will become fruitful. The same investor is implementing the project to set up a motorway service outlet near the border checkpoint Kotlovka in Ostrovets District. There are other projects in the oblast, too. So far this year the investment portfolio of the Turkish private sector in the region has exceeded $10 million”...

Turkish business eager to invest in Belarusian towns
“Belarus has a good investment climate. The government knows what investors want and how it can help them. Personally, I have been working with Belarus for more than ten years already. It is a stable and peaceful country. I always tell my colleagues from Turkey that Belarus is good for doing business,” said Sedat Igdeci, the president of the business association Turkish Capital...

Business matchmaking event for Austrian business community in Minsk on 23 November
The business matchmaking event will take place during the 13th session of the Belarusian-Austrian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation...

Belarus, Germany discuss investment cooperation
The parties discussed prospects for bolstering the trade and investment cooperation between Belarus and Germany, and also plans related to further advancement of the collaboration with the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations...

USAID to spend $2.5m to institutionalize venture capital financing in Belarus
The project will be implemented by the BelBiz group of companies in association with partners. The project was presented as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, which is scheduled to take place in Belarus on 14-20 November with assistance of the Belarusian Economy Ministry and OAO Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus...

Store of Belarusian goods to open in Azerbaijan’s Ganja in late 2016
Belarus and Azerbaijan have a potential to enter a new level in the bilateral trade and economic cooperation. For instance, the Ganja Automobile Plant produces vehicles in cooperation with Belarus’ MAZ...

Azerbaijan shows interest in Belarus’ agro-towns, food industry
“Since you are interested in agriculture and, first of all, agro-towns, we are ready to show you our recent achievements in the sector, share experience in the development of the corresponding infrastructure. We can also show you our milking parlors of any modifications and types,” said Mikhail Rusy...

Belarus’ economy presented in Marseille
Marseille Vice Mayor Didier Parakian emphasized the interest in expanding trade and economic cooperation with Belarus and stressed that a number of companies from the region were successfully developing cooperation with Belarusian partners...

World Bank invited to implement electric car project in Belarus
Belarus has advanced quite far in allied fields such as the production of hybrid buses, trolleybuses, and trams. Besides, specialists able to do the job are available in Belarus, said the speaker of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament...

Spartak’s store opened in Chinese Harbin
The store in Harbin will be engaged both in retail and wholesale. Spartak is planning to open two more stores in China’s major cities, Shanghai and Beijing. Negotiations are already underway. “Spartak will have an individual booth at AnuFood China 2016 which will open in Beijing on 16 November...