October 18, Minsk /Anna Kot - BELTA/. The Ministry of Economy of Belarus, in cooperation with the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme, is implementing a project in the field of public-private partnership, the Ministry informed BELTA.
"The development of public-private partnership (PPP) as an innovative tool for implementing infrastructure projects is becoming a reality of economic policy in Belarus. As foreign experience shows, PPP is the most optimal solution for implementing projects on the construction of roads, kindergartens and schools, reconstruction of hospitals and infrastructure in the housing and communal services sector. This is a unique tool that allows the state, business and the ordinary citizen to benefit, because it creates new industries, jobs, and services for Belarusians," the statement posted on the Ministry of Economy website reads.
The high interest of the Ministry of Economy in the effective implementation of investment infrastructure projects has contributed to the initiation and launch of a two-year joint project of the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme "Strengthening National Capacity in the Application of Public-Private Partnership Mechanisms in the Republic of Belarus". The implementation of the project is entrusted to the United Nations Development Programme, and expert support will be provided by PPP specialists working in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The project is financed by the European Union and co-financed by the United Nations Development Programme. The national implementing agency is the Ministry of Economy of Belarus, and the national project coordinator is the Minister of Economy Nikolai Snopkov.
"Given the importance of the PPP mechanism for the effective development of infrastructure sectors affecting the country's competitiveness, the project is designed to accelerate the introduction of PPP into economic activities," the Ministry of Economy emphasized.
One of the top priorities is the training of highly qualified personnel capable of initiating, developing, and implementing public-private partnership (PPP) projects at the highest level. A large-scale information and educational campaign is planned. It will not only provide an overview of the latest achievements in the field of PPP, its advantages, and international experience but also impart practical skills and expertise. The first significant informational event of the project will be an international conference with the participation of global PPP experts, "Public-Private Partnership: Best International Practices and Prospects for the Republic of Belarus," scheduled to take place on October 18 in Minsk.
An equally important task of the project is to facilitate the improvement of the legislative framework ensuring the legitimacy of PPP in infrastructure sectors and the formation of an organizational and management structure – a national PPP centre. The main mission of the PPP centre in the medium term is to contribute to increasing the attractiveness of the Belarusian market for investment capital, which will be directed towards socially significant projects. The National PPP Centre will promote the creation of a sustainable public-private partnership system in line with best global practices.
To accelerate the implementation of pilot PPP projects in Belarus, the project envisages the development of a methodological framework for identifying, selecting, and evaluating PPP projects, as well as guidelines for preparing the National Infrastructure Development Plan in Belarus.
"Thus, the main goal of the project is to strengthen the capacity of representatives from the public and private sectors, the academic community, and public organisations to identify, promote, develop, and implement PPP projects in infrastructure sectors in Belarus. Achieving this goal will favourably impact mutually beneficial cooperation between the state and the private sector, enhance the quality of services provided, and accelerate the modernisation of infrastructure necessary for sustainable economic growth," the Ministry of Economy noted.-0-
News of Belarus (BELTA)