The BCtA took the message of inclusive business to Belarus as part of the UN70 Belarus Express for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an old fashioned whistle-stop campaign to engage stakeholders across the country on the SDGs. From 28 to 30 October, Tatsiana Hulko, BCtA’s outreach and country-level expert, traveled by train across the country to meet with the leaders of Belarus’ private sector. They discussed the potential for – and evidence of – the substantial contributions inclusive business can make to the SDGs, both at global and country levels.
The Emerging Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region is a unique market for inclusive business. It boasts a relatively well-developed infrastructure and a well-educated population – a legacy of its socialist history. However, some countries have a constrained entrepreneurial culture. The Belarusian economy, for example, is dominated by state-controlled, old-style giants with limited opportunities for innovation – and very basic understanding of inclusivity as a competitive advantage. Its corporate social responsibility (CSR) culture was first introduced by multinational companies like EPAM Systems, a US-based global provider of software and IT services, MTS, the largest mobile operator in Russia and Coca-Cola, but it is still in its nascent stages.
There are not many multinational companies in Belarus – due both to the political isolation with the west and poor investment climate, and awareness of CSR is happening slowly. But while the concept of inclusive business is still a recent phenomenon, many of Belarus’ businesses are actively building inclusivity into their core models. Some examples include EPAM Systems’ initiative on youth training and MTS’ product offerings for lower-income populations.
Belarus considers itself one of the founding nations of the UN and is a keen supporter of the UN Charter, so it was not surprising that the UN70 Express drew large crowds wherever it went. A partnership between the United Nations and the government of Belarus, the train stopped in seven cities around the country, where UN and government representatives joined with members of civil society and the private sector to conduct 253 events, including 70 workshops and discussions. More than 30,000 people across the country took part in the activities. The initiative was attended by representatives of 30 diplomatic missions, 30 private companies and 40 non-governmental organisations as well as representatives of government ministries, the president’s administration, members of parliament, governors of all regional executive committees and local authorities.
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