Если у вас возникли сложности с курсовой, контрольной, дипломной, рефератом, отчетом по практике, научно-исследовательской и любой другой работой - мы готовы помочь.
Предоплата всего
Подписываем
THE STRUCTURE OF BELARUSIAN ECONOMY
RESOURCES
Arguably Belarus’ greatest natural resource is its geographical location. We have large forest and water reserves. Belarus is well positioned in terms of natural resources for food and beverage production, oriented towards internal demand, and woodworking.
Belarus possesses the world’s largest reserves of potassium salts for production of potash fertilizers, and peat, that are mainly exported. Among the other minerals are food salt, construction materials (chiefly limestone, dolomite, gravel, fire resistant and refractory clay, loam and quartz sand, used locally) and small deposits of gold and diamonds.
INDUSTRY
Processing industry makes up 25.3% of GDP. It is dominated by machinery and metalworking.
The other main branches have been engineering (the production of technology for agriculture and specialized heavy vehicles) and refining. The production of different types of commercial vehicles (mostly tractors and dumper trucks), in addition to oil refining and petrochemicals activities account for more than 75% of Belarusian exports.
Belarus Potash Company controls around a 30% global market share. BelAZ is a major manufacturer of haulers and earthmoving equipment for mining, quarrying and construction applications. Minsk Tractor Works (employing 30,000) offers a wide range of special-purpose vehicles for logging and forestry, municipal services and mining, as well as loaders. Minsk Automobile Plant produces heavy trucks, buses, trailers and special vehicles. Belarusian Steel Works is a major steel mill, over 85% of which production is exported. Gomselmash manufactures fodder-picking combines and multi-functional agricultural machines.
Belarusian mechanical engineering offers a wide range of sophisticated consumer goods such as TV sets, refrigerators and washing machines. We are known abroad by instrument making, electrotechnical, radio-electronic, optical, chemical and petrochemical, wood-processing and cellulose-paper industries.
Industrial opportunities of the light industry are focused on producing flax fiber; washed wool; cotton, woolen, volumetric, staple, linen, and silk yarns and fabrics; carpets and carpetware; nonfabric materials; sewing threads; textile dry goods; knitted products; stockings and socks; sewed and corset, leather, fur and artificial products; footwear; zippers, etc.
The core of construction industry is made up by the companies producing construction materials, glass and faience, forestry and woodworking, engineering and metalworking. It contributes 10.7% of GDP. The Belarusian construction materials sector benefits from the construction boom, supplying materials in the domestic market, Russia and Europe.
BANKING AND FINANCE
Banking system in Belarus consists of the National Bank of Belarus and 32 commercial banks, most of which are either joint-stock or limited-liability companies. The three state-owned (Belarusbank, Belagroprombank, and Belinvestbank) control more than 70% of the market. Within the top-five, foreign banks (Sberbank and Raiffeisen international) are now counted. The biggest private bank is Trustbank.
A securities market and stock exchange are also functioning. The major market instruments are: shares, bonds, bills, and derivatives. Foreign investors are actively looking for opportunities in the Belarusian insurance sector.
National currency from 1994 is Belarusian rouble (BYR). The NBRB devalued it by 20% against the dollar in 2009. The exchange rate is: £1 = BYR 5,100; US$ 1 = BYR 2,970; € 1 = BYR 3,980 (January 2010).
TRANSPORT
Transport and communication aggregate for 8,9% of GDP. Belarus is a highly attractive place for investment in development of warehouse and transport logistics.
The automobile public transport, public railways, navigable rivers, and well-equipped airports are at the disposal of passenger and fright transportation.
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture has a 6-8% share in the Gross Domestic Product. Agricultural areas occupy around 7.7 ml hectares (30% of the total country land area). The average number of people employed in agriculture is more than 400 thousand, accounting for around 10% of the total labour force of the Republic of Belarus.
Agroindustrial complex of Belarus includes agriculture (plant-growing and animal husbandry), manufacturing industry (food manufacture, flour-and-cereals and mixed feed, flax preprocessing), service sector (production engineering, reclamation, land-planning, science, agrochemistry, veterinary science, construction, trade and other types of services).
agricultural enterprises in Belarus are mainly specialized in crops, meat, dairy and poultry production. The country can be divided into three agricultural regions: north (flax, fodder, grasses, and cattle), central (potatoes and pigs), and south (pastureland, hemp, and cattle). Belarus' cool climate and dense soil are well suited to fodder crops, which support herds of cattle and pigs, and temperate-zone crops (wheat, barley, oats, buckwheat, potatoes, flax, and sugar beets). Belarus' soils are generally fertile, especially in the river valleys, except in the southern marshy regions.
BUSINESS CONDITIONS
Since 2007, the Belarusian president and government have implemented a wide range of measures aimed at easing state regulation of business. They are: streamlining the business registration (a one-day policy for entrepreneurs and enterprises), establishing a new land code; easing taxation (in 2009 turnover tax was reduced to 1%); creating a capital market. According to World Bank, for ease of doing business Belarus ranks 82nd out of 183 in 2009, above Spain, Poland, Turkey, Russia. Belarus ranks even higher in the ease of starting a business, and in terms of construction permits.