OREANDA-NEWS. March 16, 2011. The national action plan to conduct the Year of Business Initiative in 2011 has been adopted in Belarus. Relevant decision is contained in Resolution No. 266 of the Council of Ministers.

The national plan of action for the Year of Business Initiative represents a set of legal, economic, educational and organizational measures which implementation will help find new resources for economic growth and better wellbeing through the development of intellectual and creative potential of a person, new ideas, technologies and innovations, education of a creative and energetic young generation of managers and scientists.

In order to achieve the abovementioned results it is necessary to liberalize the state administration, eliminate superfluous administrative barriers, raise competitiveness, pass to innovative way of development, introduce technological achievements through cooperation between science and industry. There are plans to advance the education of managers, specialists and students in order to promote business initiatives.

In order to avoid the duplication of measures aimed at improving conditions for economic activity, creating fair business and investment environment, raising competitiveness the action plan was worked out in line with the drafts of the action plan to implement Directive No. 4 and the joint action plan of the government and the National Bank to meet the targets of the budget and fiscal policy of Belarus for 2011.

The approved action plan will be financed by the state and local budgets for 2011, funds of organizations and other sources.

The action plan includes 37 items regarding the implementation of Directive No. 4; improving the legal regulation of investment and other business activities in part of protecting rights of investors, bona fide purchasers; expansion of the network of small business incubators established on the basis of public organizations that possess unused production facilities; expansion of the scope of voluntary certification of products and services, control systems at the request of legal entities and individual entrepreneurs for increasing their competitiveness. The plan envisages the expansion of electronic document management, adoption of measures aimed at reducing red tape, bureaucracy and corruption in government bodies and organizations, oblast executive committees and Minsk City Hall.

During the year research will be conducted in the field of personnel management. Methodology for assessing the efficiency and management of improvements in organizations will be developed and introduced. Steps will be taken for creating the atmosphere of healthy competition, an environment conducive to new technologies in all areas. Ministries and departments will form a list of import-substituting products, which will be published in the media for the attention of business entities.

There are plans to prepare a draft decree of the President of Belarus approving the regulations on additional material incentives for executives and a decree instituting the Day of Businessman.

The plan of action also provides for amendments to the model list of labor and social guarantees recommended for collective agreements, other local legislative instruments of the organizations, contracts to retain highly-qualified workers in the organizations. The plan envisages increased financial support to the unemployed that start business in R&D sector.

According to the plan, funding from extra-budgetary sources should account for 40% of the total funds allocated for R&D which is to be conducted by establishments of higher learning subordinate to the Education Ministry. This year Belarus will organize a national contest of innovation projects in high technologies among young people, Belarus Start Up, a contest for the best rationalization proposals and inventions, a national contest of economy and entrepreneurship among students, Steps to Success.