MINSK, 27 September (BelTA) – The next Belarus Investment Forum will take place in Minsk on 15-16 November, representatives of the National Agency of Investment and Privatization told BelTA. There are plans to invite representatives of foreign businesses, financial institutions, and international organizations to Belarus. During the Belarus Investment Forum they will be made familiar with complete and reliable information about the country’s investment potential, including the opportunities opening up by the formation of the 170 million consumer market of the Single Economic Space. Major investment projects will be offered for consideration. A presentation of investment opportunities of the Belarusian capital city will be arranged as part of the Minsk Investment Day on 15 November. The sixth Belarus Investment Forum will continue the traditions established by previous similar events in the past that were held in turn in Minsk and major financial centers of the world (London, Frankfurt am Main). A range of novelties will be introduced, representatives of the National Agency of Investment and Privatization told BelTA. The way the event is held will be changed this year. Apart from presenting opportunities of Belarus the forum will aim to attentively study and take into account wishes of potential investors regarding their arrival in the Belarusian market. With this in mind roundtable sessions with independent moderators selected from international experts will be used as the main form of work. Thus, a venue for an open dialogue between representatives of government agencies, domestic businesses and foreign investors will be arranged under the aegis of this year’s forum. Apart from that, a session of the Foreign Investment Advisory Council will take place at the same time. It will underline the determination of the state investment policy to satisfy needs of foreign investors. Encouraging investments into the innovative economy is another peculiarity of this year’s forum. With this in mind there are plans to hold panel sessions to discuss information and communication technologies, pharmaceutical industry, and biotechnology industry. For the first time prospects of Belarus cooperation with major international investment funds and other financial institutions will be discussed as part of the national forum. The Startup Day will be yet another novelty of the 2012 Belarus Investment Forum. It will be kind of an investment forum for the youth. As part of the youth investment forum innovative business projects of young businessmen will be presented before potential investors. There are plans to allocate a government grant to the most promising startup projects.

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