Regional News

Over 240 applications submitted for EU/UNDP local development project in Belarus

Applications for the Call for Entrepreneurial Initiatives of the project “Support to Economic Development at the Local Level in the Republic of Belarus” have closed. All in all, the project received 241 applications from 12 pilot districts of Belarus, project's PR specialist Nadezhda Sinelnik told BelTA.

“Kobrin District of Brest Oblast is in the lead in terms of the number of applications, with 36 applications. Khoiniki District of Gomel Oblast and Molodechno District of Minsk Oblast were also quite active, submitting 26 applications each. Braslav District of Vitebsk Oblast and Lida District of Grodno Oblast filed 24 and 23 applications respectively,” Nadezhda Sinelnik said.

The applicants plan to start businesses in various fields. The services sector and agriculture are the most popular ones, accounting for 20% and 15% of the applications respectively. Manufacturing of consumer goods and tourism make up 14% each. Other applicants want to do business in construction, education, logistics, and healthcare.

“All the applications are currently undergoing the review procedure. The winners will be announced in May. They will receive support in the form of goods, works and/or services necessary for the implementation of an entrepreneurial initiative in the amount of up to $25,000,” Nadezhda Sinelnik added.

Applications for the Call for Entrepreneurial Initiatives were open from 15 February to 30 March 2021 in 12 pilot districts of the project: Bereza District, Kobrin District, Braslav District, Orsha District, Bragin District, Zhlobin District, Khoiniki District, Lida District, Borisov District, Molodechno District, Bykhov District, and Klichev District.

The project “Support to Economic Development at the Local Level in the Republic of Belarus” is funded by the European Union and is implemented by the United Nations Development Program in association with the Belarusian Economy Ministry.