Внешняя торговля Беларуси машиностроительными товарами: состояние и перспективы

Abstract

The economy of the Republic of Belarus during the independence period has not gone through serious restructuring,it has not overcome its transitive nature due to its limited own natural resources and constant dependence on raw materials, fuel and energy import. It has an unfavourable trade balance in foreign trade, especially with Russia, and is mainly oriented on export of finished goods while increasing its trade turnover. Within the period 1995—2001 the trade turnover with Russia grew by 1,78 and the unfavourable trade balance by 1,68. The Belarusian industrial complex is based on production with medium and low technologies though in fact it manufactures complex material and energy consuming goods. At the external trade balance of 150 USd per capita the produce in machinery industry comprises not more than 25 % of it. In 2001 only 10 % of the export and 26,7 % of the import of the machinery produce was connected with up-to-date and high technologies. It shows that the increase in production and renovation of industrial and technical base is directly related to the import of high technology products from the West. The appearance of revitalization and growth in Russia's economy development which shares the same industrial foundations with Belarus, its orientation on domestic consumers creates new problems in promotion and sales of Belarusian goods on this market. In this connection, the author's guidelines for more active use of the intellectual potential of the republic, realization of 'active' industrial policy and introduction of new marketing strategies set prospects for preservation and consolidation of positions of Belarusian goods on Russia's market and their competitiveness on other markets.