Business tourism in Belarus

Belarus has a rich history and culture,and a unique natural heritage. It is an interesting destination for health and wellness. Business tourism is gaining momentum. People come to Belarus for cooperation projects, business meetings and networking, and corporate events.

The main flow of business tourism traditionally happens within the country, but the Belarusian business travel market catering to foreign guests is growingevery year.

Networking and establishing business relationships with Belarusian partners, frequent working trips to implement joint projects that require closer cooperation between companies, sharing professional experience, participating in large international business events, corporate tours for employees… All opportunities are available in Belarus.

Belarus’ advantages for business tourism:

• geographically and strategically convenient location in the center of Europe;
• an attractive business climate and an extensive system of preferential treatment for partners;
• a large number of Belarusian companies and brands that are among European and international leaders;
• high professional and HR potential of the country;
• modern infrastructure (a wide range of conference rooms, exhibition centers and hotels equipped with everything necessary for events of different levels);
• competitive prices for accommodation, meals and events (which allows companies to optimize costs);
• visa waivers for citizens of dozens of countries.

Belarus’ major business hubs are:

• Great Stone Industrial Park is the largest project of Chinese-Belarusian cooperation, open to residents from all over the world, a growing modern eco-city with an emphasis on high-tech and competitive innovative production projects with high export potential;
• Hi-Tech Park is one of the largest IT and high-tech clusters in Central and Eastern Europe;
• Free economic zones (FEZ) and other territories with the preferential regimes offering the most favorable conditions for doing business.

Gateways into Belarus for potential investors and business interested in partnership are:

• National Investment and Privatization Agency;
• Administration of free economic zones and Great Stone industrial park;
• Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• National Center for Marketing;
• Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange;
• Standardization and certification centers;
• Subjects of innovative infrastructure (science and technology parks, technology transfer centers, venture organizations), and subjects of support for small and medium-sized businesses;
• regional investment development agencies, insurance, legal and consulting companies, including international ones.

Today, Minsk is building the International Financial Center which is expected to become a special economic zone for business in Belarus, the CIS and Europe, a large cluster of attracting capital from around the world. The developer company plans to complete the project in 2027. In line with the project, the main tower of the International Financial Center, with 42 levels and a height of about 180 meters, will be one of the tallest skyscrapers in Minsk. There will be an observation deck on the top floor. The future International Financial Center will consist of several high-end apartment buildings designed for business professionals. The center is anticipated to see a significant increase in business travel and related activities.

The skyscraper of the Gazprom Center multifunctional complex (189 meters) is slated for completion in 2027. It will be the highest building in the capital city and in Belarus as a whole. The complex will be used as the Gazprom Group headquarters in Belarus and as a business hub, a comfortable place to do business. It will consist of administrative and office buildings, a hotel complex with a congress center, a sports center, a children's educational and development center, a medical center, a shopping promenade, an amphitheater, a recreation area, parking lots.

The business tourism and MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions/Event) in Belarus, as well as around the world, suffered a tremendous setback during the 2020 pandemic due to the mass cancellation of events and transition of communication online. But today, business trips and offline contacts are increasingly in demand, although the global virtual events market is projected to grow significantly.

For example, after the MICE industry bounced back in the post-pandemic years, Minsk has become one of the most popular destinations for off-site corporate events among Russian companies. Belarus hosts meetings of various formats, including teambuilding, corporate events, strategic sessions, etc.

In 2022, the National Tourism Agency of Belarus released a MICE tourism catalogue containing a complete list of hotels and other infrastructure facilities intended for business travelers. The catalogue is constantly updated enabling guests to choose the most suitable location for their events.

In addition, work is currently underway in Belarus to create a national convention bureau - a one-stop-shop for foreigners interested in holding business events in Belarus. It provides comprehensive support, starting from selecting a suitable location and managing the tendering process for companies, and extending to assistance with arranging meetings, accommodation, transfers, catering, excursions, finding speakers on topics of interest and inviting guests.

Despite a busy work schedule, business travelers should be able to make time for getting to know Belarus better, exploring its culture and enjoying picturesque nature, and visiting famous attractions, including the gems of the UNESCO World Heritage List. Tourist information centers and specialized companies offer a wide range of services, including hotel reservations, transfers, entertainment. The business program can be supplemented by a large list of options: excursions, animation programs, outdoor recreation, gastronomic tours, etc.

Business events in Belarus

Belarus has a very busy business life. The country hosts a large number of events of various levels and scales: conferences, congresses, business forums, exhibitions, business meetings during state, official and working visits... In recent years, a lot of effort has been put into overcoming sanctions, establishing new partnerships and building logistics chains.

The annual calendar of international exhibitions and major business events on various themes and from various sectors of the economy includes dozens of events in the capital city and the regions.

Belarus' largest exhibitions include:

• Minsk International Book Fair
• International exhibition and fair of the beauty and health industry INTERSTYLE
• International exhibition Mechanical Engineering
• International exhibition Metalworking
• International tourism exhibition and fair Leisure
• International medical forum Healthcare of Belarus and international exhibition Healthcare (BELARUSMEDICA)
• BELARUSIAN AGROINDUSTRIAL WEEK: International specialized exhibition Belagro, International specialized exhibitions Belfarm. Belproduct. Biogas., International specialized exhibition Prodmash.Kholod.Upak., International specialized exhibition Food Industry
• International exhibition of forestry and woodworking industry Lesdrevtech
• International architectural and construction exhibition BUDEXPO
• International exhibition of industrial technologies and innovations TechInnoPromъ
• International exhibition of chemical and oil and gas industry and science Chemistry. Oil and Gas
• International exhibition for wholesale of light industry goods BTI (BelTexIndustry)
• Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum: International exhibition Energy. Ecology. Energy Saving. Electricity (ENERGYEXPO), specialized sections Technologies for the Petrochemical Industry (OIL&GAS TECHNOLOGIES), ATOMEXPO-BELARUS, Water and Air Technologies, EXPOSVET EXPOGOROD, specialized exhibition Innovative Industrial Technologies (GREEN INDUSTRY), electric transport salon E-TRANS
• International exhibition Woodworking
• International wholesale exhibition and fair PRODEXPO

The International ICT Forum TIBOin Minsk has gained recognition far beyond Belarus’ borders. It is a unique platform for exchanging advanced international experience, generating innovative knowledge and discussing mechanisms for implementing the latest technological trends in various sectors of the economy, social services and the public administration system. Every year, the event brings together thousands of participants from Belarus and abroad. Its program includes an exhibition presenting the latest information technology and possibilities of its effective application in various fields, a number of business events, and the TIBO Internet Award competition.

The Minsk International Exhibition Center, which opened in late 2024, is now Belarus’ biggest venue to host large-scale exhibitions, congress and business events, forums, conferences, and conventions.

This brand-new exhibition space is the country’s largest convention center, unique in terms of its transformation capabilities, innovation, flexibility, and mobility. The Minsk International Exhibition Center features 22 hectares of surface area. The total area of the center is 37,000m2. Inside, there are two large halls with an area of 6,000m2 and 8,600m2 and a 14m high ceiling, which makes it possible to host both small presentations and large-scale events. In addition to multifunctional premises, the center is home to a congress hall, fully-equipped conference halls, a large restaurant, and a VIP zone for high-ranking visitors.

The Minsk International Exhibition Center is able to host up to 15,000 people a day. The center is located in North Waterfront, a new residential area of the Belarusian capital near the Minsk ring road, and harmoniously fits into the urban infrastructure. According to the design plan, a reference is made to one of the country’s most recognizable symbols - a stork. The concept is based on the image of the bird wings. The facade is decorated with national ornament.

The first project that the center hosted in late December 2024 was My Belarus, an exhibition of the country’s achievements. The event drew more than 400,000 visitors. In spring 2025, the center hosted a large-scale exhibition project dedicated to the 80^th anniversary of the Victory.

Visa requirements and visa waiver programs for business trips to Belarus

Citizens of dozens of countries can take advantage of Belarus’visa waiver programs including for business travelers as long as such trips meet the terms of stay and other travel rules.

In other cases, a visa is required to visit Belarus. The visa type depends on the frequency of visits.

An eVisa is a convenient tool for organizing trips to Belarus. This option is available to holders of ordinary passports of 67 countries, including the USA, Canada, EU, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the UK and other countries.

Visa-free trips to Belarus (up to 180 days) are available for investors and other persons according to the lists compiled by the administration of the Great Stone Industrial Park. Under Decree No.8 “On the Development of Digital Economy” foreign citizens employed by the Hi-Tech Park resident companies as well as their founders can cross the Belarusian border without visas.

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