Leanid Zaika: Belarus Reminds Railway Station Now, But People Have Empty Suitcases

Well-known Belarusian economist, head of the analytical center Strategy Leanid Zaika shared his outlook for the next year.

Kp.by published an interview with the expert.

– Leanid, the crisis has somehow drawn out to a great length. Will the year 2017 be better or worse than the current one? Will there be light at the end of the tunnel?

– Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is the bright lights of a train, moving towards you. And I'm afraid that such a moment could happen. And we shouldn’t wait for anything, we must act. This is a well-known attitude, which scientists are aware of: when people switch to their own problem-solving in difficult situations, it’s positive. One can hope for a salary of $ 500, if he goes to the place, where the minimum salary is $ 500 – to extract oil in Russia, or work as a waiter in Brussels. The country, especially the younger generation, is facing a challenge – how to integrate into this new life. Now Belarus reminds me a railway station. But the people are there with empty suitcases...

– How is it possible to stuff them?

– With ambitions, education, drive, desire to be the first. Actually, I'm an optimist. I think that, if to act professionally, it is possible to stimulate the development of national business. You just have to give 118 square kilometers of land to budding entrepreneurs. To give a square kilometer of land for free use in each region – for business, construction companies, development. It requires no cost. Just sign the document. More than 150 years ago, so did the American government, when they wanted to help the development of universities. They just gave the land to universities. And that was enough. We need notable, interesting, original solutions. But we have pension management in the country. Pensioners have become leaders of enterprises and the country. It is dangerous. It is reminiscent of the days of Brezhnev's stagnation.