Belarus : Transport Sector Policy Note

The transport sector is an important
economic sector in Belarus, contributing 6.7 percent of
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2008 and 6.6 percent in
2009. Belarus has been a net exporter of practically all
modes of transport services. The country serves as a transit
transport corridor between the European Union (EU) and
Russia and potentially between the EU and Asia; thus, the
strategic geographical location of Belarus places the
country on two of the Pan-European corridors that the EU has
committed to promote. In addition to a high geographical
concentration of international trade, the trade patterns for
specific commodity groups are also concentrated in Belarus.
A relatively small number of industrial producers and main
export companies dominate the market and generate a
corresponding transport demand. The trade logistics
environment in Belarus has been improving in many areas. The
evolution of freight and passenger transport markets shows
that freight traffic movements have grown in line with GDP.
Belarus does have the equivalent of a National Transport
Strategy and Action Plan. The program for ensuring efficient
use of transit potential of the Republic of Belarus for 2006
- 2010, the draft program of the development of transit
potential of the Republic of Belarus for 2011 - 2015, and
the roads of Belarus program constitute the three key
pillars of such a national transport strategy. In addition,
the strategy for the development of transit potential of the
Republic of Belarus for 2011 - 2015 and the concept of
Belarus' transport system development until 2025 have
recently been approved by the Government.