MINSK, 1 September (BelTA) – High intellectual potential of its young people is Belarus’ big advantage, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Belarus Nigel Gould-Davies told a press conference on the occasion of expiry of his diplomat’s term in office. According to the Ambassador, Belarus like other countries has been affected by the global economic crisis. It is vital that the countries do not close their markets for each other. It is not by chance that new opportunities have opened up for Belarus on the part of the EU and other organisations such as the IMF, the World Bank, the diplomat stated. According to Nigel Gould-Davies, the crisis is forcing the countries to make difficult and painful decisions. More restrictions will be there after the crisis than it was before, and the competition will become tougher. It would take us all the running we can do to keep in the same place. According to the Ambassador, Belarus has one big advantage. It is its youth. Nigel Gould-Davies said he was much impressed with integrity, abilities and work ethic of Belarusian young people. The youth is Belarus’ great potential, the diplomat believes. According to the diplomat, more and more international companies, including the London Stock Exchange, are placing orders on software development in Belarus. Belarus is developing software for the world’s largest financial centre, Nigel Gould-Davies added.