Leu Marholin: All Viable Business In Belarus Appeared Not Thanks To State, But Contrary To It

Why young Belarusians can't live up to their potential.

Belarus needs to use the potential of young people to create new enterprises. President of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grimsson voiced such an opinion in the program World View on Saturday's air of the channel RTR-Belarus.

The economist and entrepreneur Leu Marholin tells if it is possible to make such a wish come true in modern Belarus, Zautra Tvaei Strany writes.

– In general, this is a normal wish, but it is absolutely not applicable in our conditions. We need starting capital, but we have such interest, that hardly anyone will risk taking a new loan for a new project. To start something new, one needs a startup capital, but banks have such interests, that hardly anyone will risk taking a loan for a new project.

But most importantly, the inviolability of private property is not ensured. That is, if a young person suddenly succeeds in his or her startup, it is not guaranteed that the authorities will not come to him and take away his business. That is why our young people prefer to implement serious ideas abroad.

– Are there many young people in Belarus who could try to set up their own company?

– It is the matter of a mere healthy commercialism. If a person has any intentions, he wants to realize his potential, including in business. But the state should back him with cheap loans, venture funds, start-up funds and, most importantly, ensure the inviolability of this property and ensure that this person has the right to make a mistake.

– Is the state itself interested in ensuring that our young enterprising compatriots open their business here, not abroad?

– In words, it is interested. But in fact, all viable business in Belarus appeared not thanks to the state, but contrary to it. Many of those who started here, try to relocate at least the center of their activities into a more secure place once they achieve some success.