Industry

The industry is the largest field of the national economy in the Republic of Belarus influencing the dynamics of all indicators of the national economy. The major branches of industry include metallurgy, mechanical engineering, metalworking, woodworking, chemical, petrochemical, food and light industries, etc. The Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Belarus is the governing authority.

The main document, defining the development of field for the short-term perspective is the Program on development of the industrial complex of the Republic of Belarus till 2020, adopted in 2012. The Program stakes on the development of innovative economic sector, which will provide highly-efficient workplaces.

Tasks set by the Program will be accomplished through the development of three lines:

• modernization of traditional industrial sectors;
• rationalization of fuel and energy complex;
• startup of high-technology and science-based productions in such braches as radio-, micro- and optoelectronics, television engineering, pharmaceutical industry, chemical industry, fine chemical industry, development of space technologies.

The priorities in attracting direct foreign investments to the industry are the following: establishment of joint and foreign enterprises; partial sale of state-owned shares to foreign investors, except for strategically valuable ones connected with the national safety.