UTC Representative for Economic Reform Presents Strategy for Democratic Belarus’s Economic Development

The United Transitional Cabinet’s (UTC) representative for economic reforms, Alisa Ryzhychenka, unveiled a long-term Strategy for Economic Development of a Democratic Belarus through 2035.

“Our strategy is built on the idea of a triple priority: reform of the education and science systems must go hand in hand with accelerated technological development of the economy. These three directions reinforce each other and create a synergistic effect of transformation,” Ryzhychenka said, according to the UTC press service.

She stressed that Belarus does not possess abundant natural resources, but it does have what enabled Estonia, Ireland, Israel and Singapore to thrive.

“We have educated, talented people and the ability to rapidly adapt modern technologies. It is precisely the combination of human capital and technological breakthroughs that should form the basis of our future economic development,” she said.

Ryzhychenka described the current situation as critical: “The education system is degrading, science is on the verge of collapse, and the technological gap is widening.”

At the same time, she argued that a democratic transition opens a “unique window of opportunity”.

The strategy proposes three parallel tracks:

• Education: funding of 6–7% of GDP, a radical increase in teachers’ salaries and modernisation of curricula.
• Science and innovation: creation of research centres integrated with universities and business, with R&D spending at 2–3% of GDP.
• Technological development: full digitalisation of the economy, increasing the IT sector’s share to 15% of GDP, development of high-tech industries.

“By 2035, Belarus can reach GDP per capita of 28–32 thousand US dollars — four times higher than today. The IT sector’s share of GDP could rise to 15% from 3%, high-tech exports to 25% from 3%, the average salary to 2,000–2,500 dollars, and labour productivity could double,” Ryzhychenka concluded.