Analysis

World Bank Group Offers More Support for Belarus

The World Bank Group will continue to help Belarus achieve sustainable and inclusive growth as well as improved living standards.

The 2018-22 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) consultation underlined the importance of transparency of information, the use of impact data, and public-private dialogue in the decision-making process. The CPF’s cross-cutting theme was to promote the greater use of data and access to information in public decision-making.

β€œA sustained improvement in living standards in Belarus requires structural transformation, with a greater role for market forces and stronger targeted social programs,” saidΒ Alex Kremer, World Bank country manager for Belarus. β€œThe World Bank Group wants ordinary Belarusians to have better lives. That means more private sector jobs, modern skills and healthcare, and infrastructure which contributes to the economy and the environment.”

The World Bank Group’s assistance to Belarus will be concentrated in three areas for the next five years: creating opportunities for the private sector to grow and for more efficient public investment; maintaining the country’s human capital edge by improving learning environments in education and the delivery of health services; improving the contribution of infrastructure to, economic growth, climate change management, and human development.

β€œBoosting private sector investments is core to the International Finance Corporation’s strategy in Belarus,” saidΒ Jason Pellmar, director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. β€œDuring the course of this next strategy period, IFC will continue to support Belarus to improve its business environment, promote competition and increase private sector participation throughout the economy.”