{"id":72642,"date":"2024-03-13T12:23:32","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T09:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/72642\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"unsustainable-strategy-minsk-long-term-plans-unrealistic","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/72642\/","title":{"rendered":"Unsustainable strategy: Minsk long-term plans unrealistic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Ale\u015b Hudzija<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ministry of Economy has unveiled a draft National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) until 2040.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n (pixabay.com \/ Frantisek Krejci)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Economy expected to grow by 5 percent a year<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Clearly under the influence of Russian narratives, officials prioritize traditional family values and technological sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technological sovereignty is understood as closer ties with Russia and China, while concern about traditional family values may reflect the government\u2019s intention to step up political indoctrination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials have finally acknowledged the gap between society and the state. However, instead of making the state more flexible to meet the needs of society, they are trying to force the younger generation and businesses to adapt to the government\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young people are encouraged to change their worldview, and businesses are obliged to put the public interest ahead of corporate interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current practices and plans in education indicate that these goals are likely to be achieved through brainwashing and compulsory job placement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials are obviously worried about what they call \u201cpeople saving\u201d or a population decline. In their opinion, the trend can be reversed by strengthening family values, while higher living standards are secondary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, as regards incomes, officials note budget constraints and urge medium-sized and large companies to “step up joint responsibility.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 2040, life expectancy is projected to rise to 74 years; GDP, to double; the IT sector’s contribution to the economy, to rise to 10-15 percent; and greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced by 40 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The economy is to grow by about 5 percent annually, and the IT sector is expected to expand even at a faster rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similar growth rates were projected in the 2030 strategy. In reality, however, from 2016 to 2023, halfway through, the economy grew by only 8 percent. How can officials be sure that it will perform better in the future?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GDP growth in Belarus
Growth year on year in comparable prices<\/strong>
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