Foreign Economic Activity

Vitebsk region, thanks to its developed export potential, dynamically cooperates with foreign partner regions and has a number of advantages for creating and operating export-oriented industries.

Geographical location of the region is an objective factor in the development of export potential. It is the only region in Belarus bordering the Russian Federation (with Pskov and Smolensk regions) and the European Union countries (Lithuania and Latvia). The territory of the region is the shortest route from the European Union to the Russian Federation.

Transport and logistics advantages. The largest transport hubs of the region are the cities of Vitebsk, Orsha, and Polotsk. Railway lines and interstate highways pass through these settlements.

Near the city of Vitebsk (7 km), "Vitebsk Vostochny Airport" of international importance operates.

From west to east, the region is crossed by Pan-European Transport Corridor II (Germany (Berlin) – Poland – Belarus – Russia (Nizhny Novgorod) and European Route E30. The main transit road of Belarus, the M1 highway (Brest-Minsk-Orsha), is part of them.

From north to south, the region is crossed by Pan-European Corridor IX (Finland (Helsinki) – Russia – Belarus – Ukraine – (Odessa) and European Route E95. The section passing through Belarus is the M8 highway, which runs through the cities of Vitebsk, Orsha, and Gomel.

The intersection of major European transport corridors within the region, the potential for comprehensive passenger and cargo flow services in road, rail, and air transport, and the presence of developed gas and oil pipeline infrastructure make the region attractive to business partners in foreign trade.

The development of export flows is positively influenced by the presence of promising transport and logistics hubs in the region (see map).

In conjunction with the region's rich natural resource potential, the aforementioned factors positively influence the creation of new export-oriented industries and, ultimately, the development of goods export.

Each district of the region has a distinct export specialization and basic conditions for implementing new export-oriented projects.

The development of exporting enterprises of all forms of ownership, geographically linked to raw material zones and operating in the agricultural and flax processing sectors, as well as peat mining and woodworking enterprises, producing construction materials from local raw materials, and exporting fresh and frozen berries and mushrooms, is of strategic importance.

For goods export (excluding oil, petroleum products, and republican organizations), growth of 1.2 times was achieved in 2016-2020, and for services export (excluding republican organizations), growth of 1.6 times compared to 2015, which meets the targets of the National Program for Export Support and Development (growth of 1.21 – 1.25 times). For goods export in 2021-2024, growth of 3.5 times is ensured, and for services export – 1.6 times compared to 2020, which meets the targets of the National Program for Export Support and Development (growth of 1.5 – 1.6 times).

Foreign economic activity in the region is carried out by 1050 business entities.

The role of private business in promoting products to foreign markets is increasing. There is a growth in organizations exporting their own products under their own brands, with their own representative offices and dealers abroad.

The commodity structure of exports is dominated by oil products and chemical industry products. Agricultural products and foodstuffs, finished textile products, equipment, plastics and products thereof, building materials, glass fabrics, and footwear are also supplied.

The structure of imports is dominated by oil raw materials. Chemical raw materials and metals, equipment, textile and leather raw materials are also purchased.

Vitebsk region maintains foreign trade relations with 115 countries of the world. Products bearing the mark of Vitebsk manufacturers are supplied to 81 countries of the world and 76 Russian regions.

Among the CIS countries, the main trading partners are: Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova.

Traditional sales markets include China, Iran, UAE, Turkey, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia. For 2024, significant potential has been ensured in trade with Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Iraq, Libya, Serbia. Serious attention is paid to foreign trade relations with Chinese provinces, and export supplies have also increased by 1.4 times.

Foreign trade relations are developed on the basis of bilateral interregional cooperation agreements and implemented Road Map events.

The main exporters operate in the manufacturing sectors: petrochemicals, woodworking, light and food industries, machine and machine tool construction, metalworking, instrument engineering, electrical engineering, building materials, and furniture.

Enterprises of the region that have established themselves abroad traditionally export glass fabrics, acrylic tow, lubricant additives, carpets, excavators, tractor-towed implements, linen fabrics and products, rapeseed oil, as well as alcoholic beverages, poultry products, vegetables, and confectionery.

The largest commercial enterprises of the region export telescopic lifts, power and optical cable, door blocks, clothing, footwear, cable products, building materials, pellets, polycarbonate sheets, plastic products for transportation and packaging, high-pressure hoses, trade equipment, veterinary drugs, engines and transformers, capacitors, polymer products, water treatment equipment, fire extinguishers, seamless steel cylinders, and tinplate. The largest and most significant commercial exporting enterprises are located on the production sites of the "Vitebsk" FEZ and use the tax and customs preferences provided by law.

Services for foreign business partners and guests of the region. Transport services are the most developed, considering the transit attractiveness of the region and developed export flows, accounting for about half of the total volume of services exported by the region's enterprises annually. Transport service companies are concentrated in the cities of Vitebsk and Novopolotsk, and in Beshenkovichi, Vitebsk, Glubokoe, Liozno, Lepel, and Chashniki districts.

The volume of services provided to foreign students in the field of education is increasing annually. There are five higher education institutions located in the region:

• WEBVitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov
• WEBVitebsk State Order of Friendship of Peoples Medical University
• WEBVitebsk State Academy of Veterinary Medicine 
• WEBVitebsk State Technological University 
• WEBPolotsk State University 

The Vitebsk region is a unique natural and climatic region with opportunities for organizing diverse tourism: cultural and educational, pilgrimage, health, ecological, agro-ecotourism, military-historical, and sports. In addition to the cities of Vitebsk and Polotsk, the most developed tourist infrastructure is found in the Braslav, Verkhnedvinsk, Vitebsk, Glubokoye, Dokshitsy, Lepel, Orsha, and Ushachi districts.  

On reimbursement of part of the expenses for participation in international specialized exhibitions (fairs) in foreign countries

In accordance with the Regulation on reimbursement of part of the expenses for participation in international specialized exhibitions (fairs) in foreign countries (hereinafter referred to as the Regulation), approved by Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 412 of November 14, 2019, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee has approved the List of international specialized exhibitions (fairs) in foreign countries, the expenses for participation in which are reimbursed in 2026

In accordance with the requirements of the Regulation, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs registered in the Vitebsk region will be able to receive state support in the form of reimbursement of part of the expenses for participation in international specialized exhibitions (fairs) abroad. Reimbursement is made for exhibitions included in the List of international specialized exhibitions (fairs) in foreign countries, the expenses for participation in which are reimbursed in 2026, compiled by the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

Reimbursement is subject to part of the expenses under agreements for the lease of exhibition spaces and equipment, the provision of services for the installation of exhibition stands and the creation of temporary exhibition infrastructure (structures), the obligations for which have been fulfilled by legal entities and individual entrepreneurs.

Reimbursement is provided no more than once within a calendar year to legal entities and individual entrepreneurs engaged in the production of goods (performance of work, provision of services) and participating in the exhibition.

The number of recipients of expense reimbursement within the framework of one exhibition is not limited; it will be carried out on an application basis (application form) within the funds allocated in the regional budget for these purposes.

Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs are responsible for the accuracy of the information (data) that served as the basis for providing reimbursement, in accordance with budget legislation.

On reimbursement of part of the expenses for conformity assessment of products in foreign countries

Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs registered in the Vitebsk region will be able to receive state support in the form of reimbursement of part of the expenses for conformity assessment of products in foreign countries in accordance with the requirements of the Regulation on reimbursement of part of the expenses for conformity assessment of products in foreign countries.

Reimbursement is provided to a legal entity or individual entrepreneur no more than two times within a calendar year.

Reimbursement will be carried out on an application basis (application form) within the funds allocated in the regional budget for these purposes.

Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs are responsible for the accuracy of the information (data) that served as the basis for providing reimbursement, in accordance with budget legislation.

National Centre for Marketing and Price Conjuncture of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus (NCM&PC)

Vitebsk Branch

Republic of Belarus, Vitebsk, 210015, Gogol St. 14, off. 814, 816

tel./fax: (0212) 36-90-74, 36-90-75, 35-90-78

e-mail: ncm_vitebsk@icetrade.by

Belarus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BelCCI)

Vitebsk Branch

210001, Republic of Belarus, Vitebsk, Kosmonavtov St. 4;

Tel. +375 212 36 30 52 Fax +375 212 36 46 74;

E-mail: info@cci-vitebsk.by

Vitebsk Regional Union of Employers (VOSN)

210029, Vitebsk, Pravdy St. 52

tel.: +375(29) 6360902; +375(33) 3068131; +375 29 5182715; +375 212 488955

fax:+375(212) 470040; +375 212 473871

e-mail: vosnvit@mail.ru

Bel eksim garant

Bel eksim garant-Vitebsk Branch

210015, Vitebsk, Voino-Internatsionalistov St. 2-301

tel. +375 212 61 38 15, 27 68 92

vitebsk@eximgarant.by

Vitebsk Regional Marketing Center

• DOCInformation on agreements signed with regions of the Russian Federation at the level of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee
• DOCInformation on agreements signed with regions of the Russian Federation at the level of district executive committees of the Vitebsk region
• DOCInterregional cooperation agreements between the Vitebsk region and foreign countries (excluding Russia)
• DOCInterregional cooperation agreements between cities and districts of the region and foreign countries (excluding Russia)
• DOCList of bilateral cooperation documents between cities and districts of the Vitebsk region and regions of the People's Republic of China