China-Belarus industrial park brings tangible benefits to local employees

Anna Alyushina, a Belarusian college graduate in her 20s, gets up at 6 o'clock every morning, leaves home at 8 o'clock sharp, and takes the shuttle bus to go to work at the China-Belarus industrial park located 20 km away from downtown Minsk.

Photo taken on May 12, 2017 shows China Merchants Business Center in the Belarus-China industrial park Great Stone near Minsk, capital of Belarus. [Photo/Xinhua]

"When I graduated last year, other Belarusian companies that have business ties with China wanted to hire me, but finally I chose to join China-Belarus Industrial Park Development Company (CBIPDC) because I thought this company was more attractive," recalled Alyoshina, who now works as a Chinese interpreter.

The China-Belarus industrial park, named Great Stone, is the largest foreign investment project in Belarus and an important cooperation project between Beijing and Minsk within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Located right at the juncture between the Eurasian Customs Union and the European Union, Belarus is ready to forge a closer link between the two vigorous markets, and the China-Belarus industrial park is a pivotal project in this endeavor.

As of now, the rapidly developing industrial park is home to 36 resident enterprises, 20 of which are from China. Notable Chinese companies include diesel engine manufacturer Weichai, telecommunications giant Huawei, China Merchants Group, among others.

The other 16 companies are from countries including Austria, Belarus, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, Russia, and the United States, making the park a truly multinational business hub.

Alyushina said writing down new words every time she comes across them has become a habit of hers.

"I consider every translation process an opportunity to learn and progress. Every time I come across new terms I write them down immediately, then memorize them using fragmented time, such as during commutes to or back from work," she said.

Because of her diligence, Alyushina's translation skills have rapidly improved, and her salary has risen by half only one year after recruitment.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has on multiple occasions stressed the importance of the industrial park to the Belarusian economy. In May 2017, he issued a presidential decree setting policies favorable to companies inside the park.

Such policies include a tax exemption for companies during the first 10 years since they begin to reap a profit, as well as a 50-year period in which companies inside the park don't have to pay property tax or land tax.

With these preferential treatments in place, the industrial park is expected to see the number of participating companies rise to 70 by 2020, and total investment exceed 2 billion U.S. dollars by the same year, according to Hu Zheng, chief executive officer of the CBIPDC.

By recruiting domestic employees, the industrial park has also rekindled the hope of jobless Belarusians for not only feeding their families, but also living a more decent life.

Andrey Cherepanov, father of four, was laid off three years ago from an accountant post at a government agency. Now hired by China-Belarus Commerce & Logistics Corporation -- a subsidiary of China Merchants Group -- as chief financial officer, Cherepanov is turning his dream into reality.

"I already had three kids then and was in urgent need of a more spacious apartment," Cherepanov recalled the situation he was in three years ago, adding that the government agency he worked for was undergoing a reform at the time, which entailed a reshuffle of work positions.

Despite language barriers, Cherepanov made the decision to work for the Chinese company, optimistic about the future of the industrial park. He said he is proud to have gained more experience together with the company.

"After taking this new job, I bought a two-bedroom apartment in downtown Minsk, and with the current level of income, I'm able to pay off the loan in three years," the 38-year-old said.