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Lukashenko unveils details of a Belarusian ‘city within a city’ project in Oman
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MINSK, 19 December (BelTA) – Belarusian President and Chairman of the Belarusian People’s Congress Aleksandr Lukashenko provided details on an investment project that is being implemented in Oman as he spoke at the second session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress on 19 December, BelTA has learned.
The head of state emphasized that many countries are now prioritizing tourism, investing heavily in hotels and supporting infrastructure. “The task is not complex, but the returns are immense. This is precisely the course Oman is pursuing today,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
The head of state noted that, by a decision of the Sultan of Oman, with whom Aleksandr Lukashenko has established strong personal and business ties, a land plot exceeding 200 hectares has been allocated to Belarus for the construction of tourism facilities, which is quite a lot for a country like Oman, given its terrain.
“Unique nature, a coastline! The Indian Ocean is right there. I said to him, since we are friends, you should allocate a piece of land for us to build our own tourist complex,” the president recounted, describing the lead-up to the decision. “And it’s only 40 minutes from the Emirates. A direct flight [from Belarus to the UAE] is available now. We will take it up a notch if people are eager to go there and they will go if we have our own facilities. You know, he allocated this plot of over 200 hectares for us and said, ‘I agree, go ahead and build.’ And that’s not land in Belarus.”
According to the president, design work is currently in progress, with construction slated to begin in the coming years. Funding for the project is being sought from private investors. “I’m telling private companies: ‘Invest in it, and I guarantee there will be additional flights,’” the Belarusian leader added.
“We are ready to implement this construction project without using budget funds. Yet, I’m interested in the state investing so it can also get some revenue. But if private companies are to get part of the revenue, I will ensure they are reputable partners and the government also benefits from it. The main objective, however, is for our people to feel at home there, to create our own enclave in that location,” Aleksandr Lukashenko continued. “Design work is underway, and within the coming years we will start building this ‘city within a city.’”
The head of state noted that companies associated with Donald Trump are constructing tourist facilities nearby.
“It’s a unique location, and everyone is eager to go there. I want our people to… I want our tourists to be the first to fly there and have a chance to walk along the Indian Ocean coast. The Maldives are nearby, so if anyone wishes, they can visit them as well. We need to make this a reality. We must have our own place in the world for our people,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko. His words were met with applause from the participants of the Belarusian People’s Congress.
The president also stressed that tourism is listed as a priority in the country’s social and economic development program through 2030. The government has committed to doubling the sector’s revenue from approximately 2.3% to about 4.5% of GDP. “That’s a very ambitious task. 4.5% of GDP means billions of dollars,” the head of state noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also addressed comments made during the speech of the chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions regarding the regulation of the tourism industry, particularly concerning agro-ecotourism and tour guide certification. On the first topic, the president instructed an investigation into whether the sector’s potential is exhausted or if gaps in state regulation or other obstacles are hindering growth. Regarding tour guides and their certification, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked: “It’s almost amusing to listen to this. If, as he stated, some bureaucratic obstacle is in the way, this issue must be resolved definitively.”
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