2010 to become most difficult for Belarusian business

Such a disappointing forecast has been made by the largest unions of businessmen of Belarus.

The round table discussion organized by the Republican conference of entrepreneurship and Minsk metropolitan union of entrepreneurs and employers, journalists hadn’t been invited. However, as “Ezhednevnik” was informed by the chairman of MMUEE, Uladzimir Karyahin, 38 persons have taken part in the conference. Among them were members of business community, independent analysts, and scientists from the Institute of the Economy of the Academy of Sciences and Belarusian universities. Main topics for discussion were drafting the National platform of business -2010 and prospects of work in the next year.

Participants of the round table expressed their opinions about necessity to develop private business in the country and contribution of the state to this process. As said by Uladzimir Karyahin, in this year the measures on liberalization of the legislation by the state have yielded results. I particular, 52 items out of 145 contained in the National platform of the business have been implemented. At the same time, this result demonstrates that there are still many things to be changed in regulation of the economic mechanisms of the state. And the government should be more active and practical in this process, as the range of possible actions of the business community is limited.

As an example of unacceptable tardiness of officials mentioned by Karyahin was a draft decree No.518 “On some issues of renting and gratuitous use of property”, which is to come into force on January 1. The first session of the working group on providing interpretation of how to use this decree is to take place only today. It means that businessmen in fact have no time to get ready for the new rules of renting relations.

As for prospects of work in 2010, as said by U. Karyahin, the prevailing attitude of most businessmen is depression and apathy. Entrepreneurs expect the second wave of the crisis which could be more serious than the first one. However, now the internal resources f many companies are exhausted. It is worsened by decrease of citizens’ purchasing power, difficulties in mutual accounts, expensive bank loans, growing competitiveness. Besides, the first year of the Customs Union begins, and it is to bring much uncertainty. As a result, as said by the MMUEE leader, some businessmen in earnest think of winding down their business in the country and opening it in a different state in order to return in a few years.

Simply said, business is hoping for the best, but still is preparing for the worst, as it is more realistic. And if earlier year 2009 was supposed to be the worst for Belarusian businessmen, now chances are the next 2010 is to beat it in terms of negative tendencies.