MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. Russia’s investments in the economy of Belarus increased by more than 30% year-on-year in 2023 and totaled $5.1 bln, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko said during the negotiations with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow.
"The Russian Federation is the largest investor in the economy of our country, the total volume of investments in 2023 amounted to $5.1 billion and increased by a third compared to the previous year," he said.
However, he noted that the quality of Russian investments in Belarus leaves much to be desired.
"But within the CIS, the Republic of Belarus is only in third place for the Russian Federation after Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The qualitative characteristics of these investments, in my opinion, also leave much to be desired," he said.
Golovchenko pointed out that the share of participation of Russian investors in the capital [of Belarusian enterprises] is only 2% of the total volume of direct investment in Belarus from Russia, while the share of debt instruments in the structure of foreign direct investment is increasing.
"We expect that the set of measures signed today to stimulate investment activity in the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation will contribute to the arrival of new Russian investors and the implementation of large mutually beneficial projects," the Belarusian Prime Minister said.
"We propose to significantly increase the investment channel for the implementation of infrastructure projects in tourism and health sectors in Belarus," Golovchenko said, recalling that Belarus is one of the most popular destinations for Russian tourists.
He noted that the lack of accommodation places hampers the ability to receive guests from Russia.
"We have almost already sold out all the places in Belarusian health resorts for the second half of this year," the Prime Minister of Belarus said.