"Global context, local solutions: Belarus" - Kastryčnicki Ekanamičny Forum in Minsk
On November 5, 2014, Kastryčnicki Ekanamičny Forum was organized for the second time since its launch. This year the conference was dedicated to the private sector in Belarus and was titled "Global context, local solutions: Belarus" private sector potential”. CASE daughter organization, CASE Belarus, was one of its organizers.
KEF was created in 2013 as a platform for inter-sectoral and public dialogue on economic reforms in Belarus. This year even more prominent speakers participated in the event. Among them were Minister of Economy Snopkov, Young Chul Kim, World Bank Country Manager for Belarus,Lucio Vinhas de Souza, Managing Director/Sovereign Chief Economist, Moody’s Investors Service, Pavlo Sheremeta, former Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine and others.
Panelists and guests were discussing the issues of economic reforms and modernization opportunities. First of all it is impossible to save current economic structure and system of the social contracts in the current Belarusian circumstances. There is a need to develop a roadmap for complex economic reforms, otherwise governmental institutions will not be aware about their role in the process. Economic growth could be achieved through attracting foreign investors to the country, however, for that Belarus should achieve stability and gain their confidence in Belarusian currency, investment climate, and legal system. Moreover, Belarusian industries are outdated, there is an urgent need to develop new industrial branches, new skills and capacities. Belarus has a very high HR potential, however, there is no local industry, which would be able to use it. As a result, foreign capital is buying Belarusian high qualified work for very low payments.
The KEF platform was significantly developed and enhanced comparing to the 1st KEF conference in 2013. KEF 2014 became the single most highly represented in-country event in the BRAMA project history. Its organizors managed to gather different groups of actors, such as local and foreign experts, academicians and entrepreneurs, representatives of the governmental structures and the private sector, for an engaging discussion on the issue of economic reforms in Belarus. KEF started to be perceived as a unique and valuable platform for the dialogue among the private business sector, experts, and the governmental agencies. KEF 2014 proved that there are possibilities to organize sensible high-level in-country events, involving the representatives of the Belarus’ governmental agencies. The 2nd KEF built the basis for the traditional annual high-level economic forum in Belarus
