BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/12/2007

South Africa: Country's Firm Wins Bid to Build Belarus Tech-Park

South African company Lyons Financial Solutions has won the open international tender to be the strategic investor to build the compound of the High-Tech Park in Belarus.

The tender commission has forwarded the corresponding papers to the Council of Ministers of Belarus, which will suggest the general investor for the consideration of the President of Belarus. Other foreign companies may become co-investors in building the HTP. There are also plans for HTP resident companies to take part in financing the project.

Eight HTP resident companies are ready to finance preparations for developing the HTP compound. Some of the companies have already signed agreements for carrying out geological survey and drawing the architectural design of the HTP's first stage development. OAO Institute Minskgrazhdanproject will design the residential, scientific and manufacturing areas of the High-Tech Park, while Belstroitsentr will manage the construction and will exercise engineering supervision of the project.

The High-Tech Park administration plans to start developing the territory in spring 2008. On 8 October this year, the HTP administration announced an open international tender for choosing the strategic investor. The tender commission received six applications - two from Turkey and one each from Belarus, South Africa, the United States and Japan. As of 30 November the HTP was home to 37 companies, one individual entrepreneur, and six business projects. In January to September 2007 HTP resident companies created around 1200 new jobs. About 4000 people work there at present. Over the period, software development output grew by 110 per cent compared with the same period of 2006 to a total of 80.9 billion rubles.

Over the first nine months of 2007, exports amounted to 31.5 million USD, 120 per cent up on the same period of 2006.

Source:

http://allafrica.com/stories/200712100827.html