Expert: Belarus gets no foreign investments that can improve its economy

Belarus gets no foreign investments that can improve its economy, Belorussian political scientist Nikolay Radov told EADaily on May 25, when asked to comment on the statement by Belorussian First Deputy Prime Minister Vasily Matyushevsky that Belarusian and European investors hear each other and are ready to move towards each other.

“The wishes of our authorities are often unrealistic. Mr. Matyushevsky can say whatever he likes but to little effect. This can help him to account to the president at some stage but not more. The reality is that today Belarus is getting little foreign investments that can have any tangible effect on its economy,” Radov said.

He said that President Lukashenko’s statement about future Belarusian-Italian projects was just words. “Until we build a clear system of management and adopt rules that will be equal for all and until investors are confident that nobody will take their property away from them, we will have no foreign investments,” Radov said.

As EADaily reported earlier, during a Belorussian-European investment forum in Vienna, on May 24, Matyushevsky told journalists that the sides understand each other and are ready to move towards each other. “Some joint, projects are already underway,” he said.

Until now Belarus has failed to attract big foreign investors. Its key investor is still Russia (55% of all foreign investments). The UK is the second with 15% of all foreign investments.