Foreign direct investment in Belarus’ economy up 15 percent in 2022 – official

June 20, BPN. In 2022, a quarter of total foreign direct investments in Belarus’ economy, over $380 million, came from Russia, First Deputy Minister of Economy Juryj Čabatar told Ekonomika Belarusi magazine.

Belarus also received over $214 million in investment from the Netherlands and $82 million, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he added.

Citing uncertainty, Čabatar said that investors preferred “basic industries and products in stable demand,” such as food, agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

These industries are traditionally developed in Belarus which also has significant competitive advantages, he noted, citing its geographical location, infrastructure, access to the large markets of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and support from the government.

Investors prefer to reinvest their profits (+19.2 percent) rather than rely on debt instruments (-24 percent), he noted.