By H.E. Mr Mikalai Barysevich, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Throughout the centuries-old history the Belarusian nation has created rich and authentic heritage, both material and cultural. A lot of events have shaped the country’s history: the 9th century gives the first recorded accounts of the Polotsk Duchy that remained the dominating force in the region until the 13th century.
From 13th to 16th century Belarus was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a powerful state that spanned the territory from the Baltics to the Black Sea. Many historians regard this period as the Golden Age of Belarusian culture. Activity of enlightener Francysk Skaryna, writer and translator who was the second in the Slavic world to print the Bible, dates back to this very time.
In 1569 the Grand Duchy and the Kingdom of Poland signed the Union which signified the start of a new chapter in Belarusian history and lasted for more than two hundred years.
As a result of the division of Poland-Lithuania in the late 18th century between the mighty neighbours Belarus became part of the Russian Empire and later one of the Republics of the Soviet Union.
During both World Wars the Belarusian territory was the scene of bloody battles and the nation suffered the great losses of human lives. In 1941-1944 Belarus became the stronghold of the fiercest resistance movement to the Nazi occupational regime in Europe. One in three Belarusians was either killed or wounded during the World War II.
It was one of the reasons why Belarus in 1945 became a founding member of the United Nations.
In December 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union Belarus became independent.
Since then the Republic of Belarus has steadily taken its place on the political world map being actively involved in the most important international events.
Having advantageous geographical location as well as developed transport infrastructure and open economy Belarus aims to be the bridge between the European Union and Eurasian Economic Union (or in other words between East and West).
With the favorable legislation and beneficial conditions the Government of Belarus promotes the foreign companies to reside in Belarus and start doing business as well as to set production facilities. Today almost all major Dutch companies are present in Belarus including Heineken, Philips, Uniliever, DAF and others.
Belarus’ economic development is proved by the different international rakings.
Belarus jumped to the 44th standing from No. 57 among 189 countries in the World Bank’s Doing Business-2016. The position of Belarus is one of the strongest among CIS countries. In the sub-ranking of the above report, Belarus took the 7th place by “Registering Property” index, the 12th place by “Starting a Business” index and the 25th place by “International Trade” index.
Belarus holds 53rd position in the ranking of countries according to the Global Innovation Index 2015.
In the rating of countries by Human development index (HDI) published by the UN in 2015 Belarus occupied the well-deserved 50th place (among 188) and became the renowned leader among all the CIS countries.
In the IT-sector Belarus has already become one of the recognized leaders. At present 144 companies are registered as its residents in the High-Tech Park which was established in 2006 in Minsk where they could work without paying any corporate taxes. Half of the Belarus High-Tech Park resident-companies are foreign companies and joint ventures. Among the residents of the Park are a dozen of Dutch IT-companies.
According to the WTO Rating Belarus is one of the world leaders in the export of computer and IT-services per capita. Three of our companies are in the Top-100 of IT-outsourcing sphere. The resident companies of the High-Tech Park are successful on European and North American IT-markets. Today they have customers in more than 55 countries around the globe. Nowadays world leading corporations, such as Peugeot, Mitsubishi, British Petroleum, Gazprom, Reuters, British Telecom, London Stock Exchange, World Bank, Coca-Cola, etc. are among major consumers of Belarusian software developed in the Belarus Hi-Tech Park.
It might be interesting to know that the Viber mobile messenger application and the World of Tanks computer game enjoyed nowadays by hundred of million users worldwide are developed in Belarus.
Belarus has the aim to be among Top-30 countries according to the World Bank’s Doing Business Report. No doubt that this happens in a short perspective.
Embassy of the Republic of Belarus http://www.netherlands.mfa.gov.by/
Photography by the Embassy of Belarus in the Hague.
