AEB Shared Its Experience in Promoting the Interests of Foreign Companies

The AEB Deputy Chairman Maryna Barouka made a presentation to embassies’ representatives at the information meeting at the British Embassy in Minsk.

The topic of the presentation was the experience of the Association of European Business in promoting and protecting the interests of foreign companies in Belarus.

- One of the most effective tools for working with the government is public advisory councils. As of January 1, 2017, 35 councils were established under government agencies (organizations) in Minsk and regions.

At the same time, Maryna Barouka noted that, unfortunately, under some government agencies, Advisory Boards were created formally, but in fact they did not work. For example, the results of an analysis conducted by the Association of European Business showed that in boards, established under the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Justice meetings were not held in 2016. The boards set up under the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Military Industrial Committee, Minsk Regional Executive Committee held one meeting in 2016.

- Nevertheless, there are also positive examples. A single approach and coherence in the work of Advisory Boards have been achieved only in those ministries that constantly hold meetings and have developed for themselves an acceptable form of cooperation between all members of the Advisory Boards. Based on the analysis and experience of participation, it is possible to include in such Ministries and regional executive committees: the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, the Ministry of Tax and Duties, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Communications and Informatization, the State Property Committee, the State Customs Committee and Grodno Regional Executive Committee, - as Maryna Barouka said.