New export support and development programme may merely address old problems

The Government on August 1^st, 2016 approved new Export Support and Development Programme for 2016 – 2020. The programme envisages to “reduce dependence on traditional export products and markets”, as well as “product diversification” in order to increase exports by circa 21-25%, and the share of exported industrial products to 65% of production volumes. In addition, it aspires to increase the export segment of “new promising markets” up to 10%, and divide exports equally between the EU market, the EEU, and other regions. However, amid economic recession and the preservation of the Belarusian economic model, these plans are unlikely to be implemented. The government is likely to focus on preserving Belarus’ positions on the usual markets (Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia) for traditional industrial and agricultural products, which will continue to dominate and which are extremely difficult to market.