2. Filip A.G. Vandenbroele
°Brugge, 1961
Engineer in biochemistry food&winetechnology
Purchaser for a mayor EU supermarket group
3. Since 1993 in CIS
« it is easy to become a millionnaire here, but you have to be a billionair first »
EDAH EDA
4. SOYUZKONTRAKT
1993-1998
Dutch-Russian holding
Largest food importer in Russia
Bush legs & distribution FMCG
Tysson foods, Farmland, Land-o-lakes, Unilever, Herschi
cola, Hero, Grolsch, Maple river
Responsible for several projects
Best Supermarket and C&C ‘96
Pilot store
Dutch partner (and me) left on time
RIP 1998
5. MARKOM Ukraine
1998-2000
Wines&Spirits : Bacardi-Martini, Calvet,
Johnnie Walker, Hennessy, Interbrew,
Evian,....
Food : Albi, Seeberger, Gundelsheim, dr
Oetker, Destrooper
Group of supermarkets & restaurants
hug e m arke t share , but did no t like to spo nso r
pre side ntialcam paig n UA
6. Komsokol IP Belarus
2000-2004 till now
Production of garden furniture near Minsk
One of first purchases of state property
200-250 trucks export to Belgium- 100-150
staff
Fast growth of a Belgian KMO after
investment BY
7. Honorary consul
of the Kingdom of Belgiumto the Republic of Belarus
since 2004
-Belgium representation in Belarus
-Link to Embassy in Moscow for Consular affairs
-Assistance to Belgian citizens
-Humanitarian and cultural exchange
-Economical development and relations
-Local information source
Voluntary and not paid
http://consulbel.at.tut.by
9. Some activities
Exposition Belgian lace in National
bibliotheque
EU business networking events
Friendship fire men and cities
DEVE gallery Bruges www.deve-gallery.com
Seminars and business talks JCI, Europa
college, rotary, business clubs, VOKA, FIT
Sports events
FICAC World Association of Honorary consuls
Allto stim ulate e co no m icalactivitie s with
11. Honorary Consul
Obligations to the
public
Function not
understood by both
parties
Expensive hobby
Not paid
Free to fill in
Prestige & opens
doors
Some privileges and
immunities
Important business
and social network
To consider Also to consider
12. Consultbel bvba
Our business : start ups, problem solving , networking
& lobby, local representation in Belarus
References & partners :
www.consultbel.com
13. Questions & cases
Big and small EU compagnies, often in
Moscow
Main fields: logistics, hypermarkets, pharma,
global brand companies and producers.
We are happy to be first guide
But too often problem solving when too late
(confiscation, liquidation, incassation, stealing, unclear financial rapporting )
BY unknown EU-Rus neighbour, unfortunately still bad
reputation
After visit, always good impression : clean, safe and
15. Belarus
Population 9,7 million
GDP per person 5.330 USD, still small growth
Inflation 20%
Average salaries increased, but productivity
not
Big gabs in salaries
10.000 millionaires, 800.000 BY in Russia
World bank & IFC “Doing Business 2013”
BY improved now on 58 th place (B 33, Rus
112)
19. Warehouses & logistic centres in
Belarus
2.600.000 sqm warehouses
362.000 sqm class A&B in 22 locations
4 major private logistic centres (35.000sqm)
Important share of Beltamozhservice
Plan government : 15 new warehouses till
2015
www.prilesie.com 150.000 sqm
20. Belarus & transport
Total cargo 462 million Tons/y
36% automobile 4500 companies +44%
33% Train 154 million T of which 45,6 transit
30% pipeline oil& gas
21. Belarus & transit
Confusing signals
Not forgotten : confiscation policy in 2000-
2004
Still problems with transit (often mistake
documents and no presence=quick reaction not easy)
Still big concurn : stable economy, predictable
legislation, trustworthdy gouverment
Difference between Minsk and regions
Logistic infrastructure (warehousing) not yet
Facts : low foreign investments, little business
presence, small country, bureaucracy,…
22. Custom Union
confusion signals from
presentations
Simplifying
procedures for
individuals
Electronic
declaration
More members CU
WTO & competition
tariffs from 10% to
7,8%
VAT
Custom clearance at
borders
Principe of residence
Promising but not
realised infrastructure
Difficult political
relations
positive negative
23. But:
Long term : Euroasian Union more and more economical player in
world wide trade, particular between EU and Asia.
2011-2020 : carrying over of custom control on external borders
(internal order of 8 nov 2010: 42 custom offices in Moscow
dissolved, 19 newly found custom offices)
Moscow saturation traffic jams, lack of available place, high costs.
Just in time more and more important for all companies
Belarus offers unique geostrategic location, excellent roads,
competent workforce at relatively good price (excellent specialists,
hard work, russian speakers who think european), still possibilites
in locations and opportunities
Extra market of 10 million, next to Europe
Safe & clean, low corruption
24. Do and Don’ts
Respect documents and administration
Never be tempted to brown envelops
Keep low profile and know your strategy
Ask information first or help to professionals
Consider local presence (rep office, local
partner, activity)
Study if interesting without prejudgments
Be social
25. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
Filip Vandenbroele
Honorary Consul of Belgium to Belarus
http://consulbel.at.tut.by
consulbel@tut.by