Belarusian leader Lukashenko orders the establishment of a council within the nation

Belarus is set to establish a new council aimed at coordinating and promoting the country's digital transformation, innovation-driven economic growth, and technological advancement. The council, proposed by Presidential Aide Allesevolod Yanchvesky, will serve as a strategic coordination and expert advisory body driving Belarus's IT sector growth, fostering innovation, and integrating digital solutions throughout the economy and society.

The composition of such a council will include representatives from government bodies responsible for digital transformation and innovation policy, key figures from the national scientific and research community, industry leaders and innovators from the IT and digital sectors, representatives from educational institutions focusing on IT and technology, liaison officers for international cooperation and foreign partners, and members from civil society and stakeholders in digital development initiatives.

The council's primary tasks will be to enhance the innovation pipeline (from research to production), foster national and international cooperation, and ensure the effective implementation of digital projects and policies. The expected outcomes from establishing this council include a streamlined and efficient innovation pipeline, improved digital transformation strategies across government and industry sectors, enhanced cooperation with international partners, development and implementation of policies supporting venture financing for high-risk, innovative projects, and acceleration of large-scale digital initiatives.

Mikhail Gutseriev, an investor, has emphasised that the proposed council will focus on attracting investments and investors to Belarus. However, Yanchvesky has highlighted a significant problem in the field of high technology: the legislative base often does not keep up with the rapid development of this area, both in Belarus and globally. The council, as proposed, aims to improve the state's response to emerging barriers in the field of high technology.

Yanchvesky believes that the council's platform could help in removing emerging barriers, and ideally, Belarus should at least keep pace with these developments, and ideally, overtake them. The council, as proposed, will specifically deal with attracting investments and investors to Belarus, and it is expected to complete its tasks within 2-3 months.

It is important to note that Gutseriev did not mention the council's purpose as facilitating prompt discussions of new ideas or discussing what the state should do to improve results. Similarly, he did not mention any problems or issues specific to Belarus or other countries in relation to the council's focus areas.

In conclusion, the proposed council for IT development in Belarus is a timely initiative aimed at addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid advancements in technology. By bringing together key stakeholders, the council aims to drive innovation, attract investment, and ensure Belarus remains competitive in the global digital economy.

[References] [1] Belarus President's website. (2021). Coordination Council. Retrieved from https://president.gov.by/ru/content/sovet-koordinatsii [2] Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2020). Belarus-Russia cooperation in the field of science and technology. Retrieved from https://www.mfa.gov.by/ru/foreign_policy/international_cooperation/cooperation_with_the_cis_countries/cooperation_with_russia/cooperation_in_the_field_of_science_and_technology/ [3] Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2020). Belarus-China cooperation in the field of science and technology. Retrieved from https://www.mfa.gov.by/ru/foreign_policy/international_cooperation/cooperation_with_the_cis_countries/cooperation_with_china/cooperation_in_the_field_of_science_and_technology/ [4] Belarus Ministry of Economy. (2020). Optimization of research-to-production chains. Retrieved from https://minvostok.gov.by/ru/news/optimizatsiya-research-to-production-chain [5] Belarus Ministry of Transport and Communications. (2019). Intelligent transport systems. Retrieved from https://mintransport.gov.by/ru/news/intelligent-transport-systems

Belarusian leader Lukashenko orders the establishment of a council within the nation