Foreign investments: not just about attraction, but also effectiveness

In terms of Belarusian efforts to attract foreign investments, the year 2010 looked a lot like the previous year. Foreign capital inflow kept growing at a slow pace; there were no major privatisation deals, as the state is still unwilling to put up for sale large property units and is reluctantly ready to cede control only in small enterprises. 

Nevertheless, the year 2010 was marked by the country’s successful debut on the European stock market with the issuing of Eurobonds and the first listing with the Luxembourg Stock Exchange in the summer. Furthermore, important steps were made to increase the investment appeal of the country: in 2010, the government abolished the licensing of many business activities and lifted the ban on the sale of Belarusian joint-stock companies’ shares, a move contributing to the recovery of the domestic stock market.