Territory
The territory, including the capital city of Minsk, makes 40.2 thousand square kilometers (about 20% of the territory of Belarus).

Minsk region has diverse natural conditions: mountain areas and plains, rivers and lakes, virgin forests. The Berezina, Neman, Vilia are the largest rivers. Naroch is the largest lake which area makes 80 square kilometers.

There are mineral deposits and raw materials in the territory of the region: potassium and rock salt, peat, iron ore, shale oil, loam, sapropel, mineral water, sand and gravel materials, mortar sand, etc. 36% of the territory is covered with forests.

Population
The population of Minsk region (Minsk excluding) is about 1.8 million people. Density of the population is 37 people per 1 square kilometer.

Table 1. «The population of area»
Table 2. «Manpower»
Table 3. «Distribution of the population by ownership patterns»

Transport corridor
Attraction of the region from the investments standpoint is conditioned by advantageous economic and geographical location of the region in respect of domestic and external markets. Located in the centre of Europe, Minsk region has advantageous transport condition with its well-developed transport infrastructure. Moscow-Brest and Gomel-Molodechno railways, and Brest-Moscow highway cross the territory of the region. Minsk-2 national airport is located in its territory. The region has modern communication facilities; such services as hotel, restaurants, cafes, bars, parking places, filling stations are well developed.

Economics of the region
At present, more than 430 industrial enterprises are operating in the region; their production output made over 6606 billion roubles in 2004.

Table 4. «Indices of the main social and economic indicators»
Table 5. «The main industrial performances»
Table 6. «Indices of total production volume by branches of industry»
Table 7. «Indices of production volume in agriculture»
Table 8. «The main investments and construction indicators»

Economics of the region has powerful productive potential. Industry of the region is diversified. To great extent, it is based on use of local natural raw materials. Chemical and petrochemical industries, forestry, woodworking, pulp and paper industry, light industry and industry of construction materials are priority branches in the sectoral structure of industry. Lorries, potash fertilizers, machines, pumps, equipment for internal-combustion engines, plastic goods, knitwork, textiles, etc. are produced in the region.

Industry has a leading position in the regional economy. The total number of industrial organizations, including small businesses and non-utility production is more than 4 thousand units.

In the area of focus the whole issue of potash, 77% of the total production in the republic of products from metal powders, 70,2% of pasta, 56.8% sugar, 47.6% of knitwear, 47,4% pipes and parts pipelines and thermoplastics.

The largest share among the branches hold: chemical and petrochemical industry (29,2% of regional output for January 2009), mechanical engineering and metalworking (26.8%), food (23.8%), timber, woodworking and pulp - Paper (4.2%), production of building materials and light industry (3.3%).

Significant contribution to the economy of the region are making organizations subordinate to republican governments, which produced up to January 2009 about 72% of industrial output and more than 48% of consumer goods.

The leading place in the area belongs to the chemical and petrochemical industries RUE "Production Association" Belaruskali. From the first years of its existence the company has received international acclaim. Mine and mill tailings company quickly mastered input capacity, continuously and to increase the quantities of products, introduce new techniques and processes, expand the range of products.

The main products of the republican unitary enterprise "Belaruskaly are potash - potassium chloride and potassium chloride fine granulated. In addition, the company produces technical salt and different kinds of cookbooks salts.

In 2009, the company plans to provide Krasnoslobodsky mine, which will produce 200 thousand tons more fertilizer, in addition, in the long run is scheduled for launch Berezovsky plot of potash.

A leading enterprise in engineering and metalworking is RUPE "Belarusian Automobile Plant, which is located in the town of Zhodino. Main products of enterprise - heavy dump trucks, designed to operate in an open pit mining, as well as the construction of large hydraulic and industrial facilities. Along with the dump trucks the company manufactures a large range of consumer goods: trailers for passenger cars, electric, elektroshashlychnitsy, gardening equipment, household goods, toys and other products.

JSC "Borisov EQUIPMENT PLANT" specializes in the production of starters for automobile engines and agricultural machinery; RUE "Borisov plant units produces parts and assemblies for auto and agricultural machinery (centrifugal and Pneumocompressors), pumps and filters.

RUE Molodechnensky machine-tool plant specializes in manufacturing lathes, parts and spare parts for machine tools and agricultural machinery. Performs enterprise and consumer goods: furniture and construction fittings, bench vise, clips and other products in stores.

Consumer goods for each family, pipes for underground pipelines, water pipes and sewage systems, plastic sheeting produces RUE "Borisov plant of plastic products.

Polymer containers for food products, cookware single user produces JSC "Borisov plant polymer packaging Polimiz.

The food industry specializing in the production of sugar, bread and pasta, meat processing, milk, vegetables and fruits. Among them Slutsk Sugar Refinery "and JSC" Gorodeya Sugar Plant ", OJSC" Confit "in Molodechno.

Scope virtually ensures its population with bread and bakery products. At RUE Borisovhlebprom "has developed and mastered the import substituting production of long shelf life and storage: biscuits, cakes, rolls, cakes filled with custard, and frozen foods for layered products, flour and sugar sweets, as well as a wide range of dietetic and diabetic products, a la carte and domed cakes, pastries with fresh and dried fruits. Choux grain, developed by experts "Borisovhlebproma" are in demand not only in the area, but also in the capital.

The enterprises of the timber, woodworking and pulp and paper industry produced lumber, fibreboard, plywood, furniture and other products. It OAO Borisovdrev ", OJSC" Anugrah Impex ", the Belarusian-Germanic production enterprise" Minsk furniture center "in Molodechno.

Such enterprises as Belaruskaly Production Association, Republican Unitary Enterprise, Belarusian Automobile Plant Republican Unitary Production Enterprise, Borisovdrev Public Joint Stock Company, Borisov Plant of Auto-Tractor Electric Equipment: Public Joint Stock Company are well known in the CIS-states and other foreign countries.

Foreign economic activities in the region

Foreign trade indices for Minsk region:

Table 9. «The main indices of foreign trade»
Table 10. «Foreign trade with certain countries outside CIS»
Table 11. «Foreign trade of the region with CIS member-countries»

The Minsk region is export-oriented. Over the last years owing to active foreign trade the region has been one of the leaders among other regions of the republic.

The major foreign economic partner is the Russian Federation which accounts for 35,9% of the total goods turnover.

India, Germany, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Poland also have become active trade partners.

In January-May 2009 the volume of foreign trade in goods was 1672 millions of US dollars, including export – 964 millions of US dollars, import – 708 millions of US dollars (65,8%) for the whole region.

7 largest manufacturers and exporters of the region account for more than half of its export volume. These are RUE „Production amalgamation „Belaruskali“, RUPE „Belarusian Autoworks“, RUIE „Borisov plant „Avtogydrousilitel“, OJSC „Borisov auto-tractor electrical equipment plant“, RUE „Molodechno metal structures factory“. OJSC «Gorodeya sugar refinery“ and OJSC «Slutsk cheese-making factory“.

Mineral products (26,4%), machinery, equipment and instruments (18,8%), non-precious metals and related products (8,7%), food products (8%) dominate in import pattern.

Promotion of manufactured products in the foreign markets has been carried out in recent years owing to the development of distribution networks abroad. Such enterprises as RUE «PA „Belaruskali“, RUPE „BelAZ“, RUIE „Borisov plant „Avtogydrousilitel“, OJSC „Borisov auto-tractor electrical equipment plant“, CJSC „Molodechnomebel“ RUE «Borisov medical drugs factory“ and some others have the most developed distribution network.

The Minsk region executive committee concluded 63 cooperation contracts and agreements including 16 – with Ukrainian regions, 36 with the regions of the Russian Federation. It also concluded contracts and agreements with non-CIS countries (China, Vietnam, Norway, Bulgaria, Austria, and Poland).

Foreign investments
Creation of favourable conditions for investment attraction is a priority line of activities in Minsk region. Being an active advocate of investment reformation, the Minsk City Executive Committee supports projects with participation of foreign investors, in all sectors of activities.

The largest share of investments falls at industry (34%), residential construction (17%), agriculture (20%), transport and communication (10%). The main share in the structure of investments in fixed assets falls at investments made in industrial-purpose projects, so indicating stirring up of engineering re-equipment and modernization of productive potential of the region.

Investment potential of agriculture is of special importance for the region. The region produces one fourth of Republican agricultural products. Adoption of certain legislative acts enabled to stir investments in agriculture and to start reformation of agro-industrial complex. Investment projects were launched related to reconstruction and engineering re-equipment of the following poultry farms: RUSPP Soligorsk Poultry Farm; RUSPP The 1st Minsk Poultry Farm; Dzerzhinsky Agrocomplex Public Joint Stock Company; The N.K. Krupskaya Poultry Farm of Minsk, Public Joint Stock Company; RSP Smolevichy Broiler Poultry Farm.

Implementation of investment proposals of processing enterprises will enable to master and introduce about 300 new kinds of dairy and meat products: semi-finished goods, smoked and dried products of the Belarusian national cuisine; products for enriched, dietary, and medical-preventive nutrition.

At present, efforts are made in order to implement investment products of engineering re-equipment and reconstruction of Volozhin Butter-Cheese Dairy Public Joint Stock Company,Kletsk Butter Dairy Public Joint Stock Company, Molodechno City Dairy Public Joint Stock Company, Bereza Cheese Dairy Public Joint Stock Company, which have been included into the list of the most significant investment projects.

A number of important investment project are implemented in the territory of the region by the organizations subordinate to the Republican Governmental bodies, in particular:
construction of the mine in Krasnoslobodsky potassium salt section of Belaruskaly Production Association, Republican Unitary Enterprise, reconstruction of production facilities for sugar-beet reprocessing of up to 7.5 thousand tons per day capacity – in Gorodeya Sugar Refinery Public Joint Stock Company; reconstruction of ampoule manufacturing facilities in Borisov Medication Plant, Republican Joint Stock Company; etc.

The free economic zone „Minsk“ was set up to attract foreign investments and develop new high-tech production on the territory of the Minsk region. The advantageous geographical position (on the crossroads of transeuropean corridors), location in the capital, highly qualified workforce, specific character of the existing distribution in production (construction materials industry, packing, machine building) and actively developing modern storage facilities could be marked as its features.

A special procedure for taxation, customs clearance and currency exchange are set up for residents of the FEZ. The state help is provided during implementation of investment projects.

The largest share of investment was in industry (34%), construction (17%), agriculture (20%), transport and communication (10%). In the structure of investment in fixed assets accounted for the bulk of the investments made in facilities for production purposes, which indicates the intensification of technical rearmament and modernization of productive capacities in the area.

For the region of particular importance is the investment potential of the agricultural industry. The region produces a quarter of all agricultural products of the republic. The adoption of legislative acts has helped to promote the process of investing in agriculture and work to reform the agricultural complex. Starting implementation of investment projects related to reconstruction and re-equipment of the following poultry enterprise: RUSPP "Poultry Farm Soligorsk RUSPP 1-th Minsk Poultry Factory", JSC "Agro-company" Dzerzhinsky ", JSC" Minsk poultry plant them. NK Krupskaya and RSP Smolevichskaya Poultry Plant.

Realization of investment proposals of processing enterprises will learn and introduce about 300 new kinds of meat and dairy products: semi-finished goods, smoked and dried products of the Belarusian national cuisine, products enriched, dietary, and therapeutic and preventive action.

Currently, work on the implementation of investment projects on technical upgrading and reconstruction of Volozhin Butter ", OAO" Klecak Butter Factory ", OAO" Molodechno milk factory ", JSC" Borisov Dairy Plant OJSC and Bereza cheese-making plant ", which are included in list of major investment projects.

In the region there are a number of important investment projects, the organizations subordinate to republican government authorities, in particular: the construction of a mine at the site of potassium salts Krasnoslobodsky PA "Belaruskaly, reconstruction of production space for the processing of sugar beets to 7,5 tons per day of JSC "Gorodeya sugar refinery, reconstruction of the ampoule production RUE" Borisov Pharmaceuticals Plant, etc.

Minsk region has the second highest relative weight (16%) in the national investments in fixed assets after the city of Minsk.

It should be noted that significantly increased the growth rate of fixed investment in the whole region to 1990, when in 2005 it amounted to 99,1%, while in 2007 - 139,3%.

Following 11 months of this year organizations subordinate to the local executive and administrative bodies and non-departmental subordination in the region's economy invested 2,674.1 billion rubles, or 125% to the corresponding period in 2007 (forecast 125%).

In the industrial-purpose designed 1,365 billion rubles, nonproductive - 1,309.1 billion rubles. The trend leading growth in non-production sphere (127.2%) during the growth of productive investments, 124,6%.

A technical re-equipment and reconstruction of the production of a number of subordinate organizations. Higher than the 2007 level used investment GU "Minoblplodoovoschtorg" - in 6,3 times, GU "Minoblmyasomolprom, ICPO, Office of Housing and Communal Services and the Directorate of the Association Minskmeliovodhoz" - in 1,9 times.

In 2008, completed in Salihorsk 1 st starting complex of sports and entertainment center. This year, as mandated by the Head of State started the design work on the construction of sports and entertainment complexes in the town of Borisov and Molodechno. The construction of these complexes will be of equal participation at the expense of the national budget, regional budget funds and investors.

Is also planned to implement a project to build an indoor football arena in Zhodino.

The housing program has been under intense fund-raising people and credit resources of banks, by means of which entered 96,5% of all housing.

Compared with the corresponding period of 2007 to increase the use of virtually all funding sources, in particular, the budget - in 1,6 times, own funds of entities - by 17,2%, bank loans (including loans of foreign banks) - to 34,3 % of the population - by 10,5%, as well as funds from foreign investors (excluding foreign loans) - in 6,7 times.

The fact that the region becomes more attractive to foreign investors, evidenced by the fact that each year we have a steady increase in both the volume of foreign investment, and the number of foreign investors.

Foreign investment coming from 39 countries, the largest FDI inflows have come from Cyprus, Latvia, Russia, Iran, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Switzerland.

The main volume of foreign investments are directed to the development of mechanical engineering and metalworking, timber, woodworking and pulp and paper industry, food industry, as well as transport and construction industry.

Currently, the largest investment project implemented in the field, with the participation of foreign investors are: the creation of transport and logistics centers IOOO "Logistics Center" Prilesye "IP" BLT Logistic and JV "BelVingesLogistik, construction of a plant for the production of plant protection products ZAO Avgust-Bel "in Pukhovichi area, construction of sports and tourist golf complex JV" Golf Club ", the establishment of production to protect against corrosion of metal by hot-dip galvanizing FLLC RPT-Bel" in the village. Fanipol Dzerzhinsky district.

In order to promote investment activities in the field of work is focusing on the organization of meetings and negotiations with foreign investors.

Investment policy area in the near future will be aimed at further improving the investment climate, foreign investment will be drawn mainly for the development of existing and establishing new industries, including small and medium-size towns of Minsk region.