The international technical assistance project “Support to Economic Development at the Local Level in the Republic of Belarus” is implemented in 12 districts of the country, project manager Lyudmila Sokolovskaya said during a study trip for the participants of the business incubator initiative of Minsk and Minsk Oblast.
Pilot districts include Bereza and Kobrin of Brest Oblast, Braslav and Orsha of Vitebsk Oblast, Bragin, Zhlobin and Khoiniki of Gomel Oblast, Lida of Grodno Oblast, Borisov and Molodechno of Minsk Oblast, Bykhov and Khotimsk of Mogilev Oblast.
The project involves the analysis of entrepreneurial capacities of districts, development of plans for small and medium enterprises, training of specialists, improving the legal framework. It is expected that at least 150 initiatives will receive direct financial support, and that more than 500 people will undertake training courses. According to Lyudmila Sokolovskaya, this trip will focus on the practices of business incubators in the country, the international experience in the EU, their role and tasks.
Belarus Deputy Economy Minister and national project coordinator Dmitry Matusevich noted that this event is one of the stages of the work to build up the capacities of local entrepreneurs. “Belarusian business is increasingly playing by market rules, paying attention to professional management, sound financial planning, effective marketing and other internal factors in order to become more competitive. In these circumstances, it is very important to ensure quality development of entrepreneurship. This is the goal pursued by the Support to Economic Development at the Local Level in the Republic of Belarus,” he said.
The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in partnership with Belarus Economy Ministry. It will run through 31 January 2022. The total project budget is $9.5 million. The project aims to support various economic projects, to promote competitiveness and innovations to facilitate inclusive development at the local level.
The study trip around business incubators of Minsk and Minsk Oblast for representatives of pilot districts is held on 4-5 July.
