The exhibition “Gomel Region – Development and Partnership” was held at Lenin Square in the regional center.
Forum guests and visitors had the opportunity to see the best product samples presented by flagship industrial enterprises of the Gomel Region, as well as companies from the light industry, food sector, tourism industry, and many other fields.
Delegations from 15 countries arrived in the city on the Sozh River. For the twentieth time, the anniversary Gomel Economic Forum showcased the potential of the region and provided an excellent opportunity to establish new friendships, find business partners, and conclude mutually beneficial contracts.
Welcoming foreign guests, Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Ivan Krupko noted that over twenty years the forum has evolved from a regional business platform into an authoritative international venue where ideas are born, strategic decisions are made, and partnerships and human connections are strengthened. The results of previous forums speak for themselves: over the years, 125 agreements totaling more than 2.7 billion USD have been signed.
This spring, representatives of countries and regions connected not only by business relations but also by genuine mutual trust built through years of cooperation gathered once again in Gomel. According to the governor, the modern world is changing rapidly, but sincere human relations and friendship will always remain valuable.
“The Gomel Region is always open to cooperation and honest partnership. We are ready for new projects, joint productions, investments, educational and cultural initiatives,” Ivan Krupko emphasized.
The final part of the XX Gomel Economic Forum program was a visit to the exhibition showcasing the achievements of the southeastern region of Belarus.
Traditionally, the largest delegation at the forum represented the Russian Federation. Ivan Krupko highlighted the particularly close and multifaceted cooperation with the Bryansk, Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Oryol, Belgorod, and Chelyabinsk regions, as well as Bashkortostan, Yakutia, Primorsky Krai, and several other Russian regions.
This year, the Fergana Region of the Republic of Uzbekistan was widely represented at the forum. The delegation was headed by regional khokim Khayrullo Bozarov, who emphasized Uzbekistan’s clear intention to deepen strategic cooperation in the agro-industrial sector and industrial cooperation.
Economic, trade, humanitarian, and cultural ties between the Gomel Region and Kazakhstan, China, Pakistan, India, Zimbabwe, Qatar, Iran, the UAE, and Vietnam continue to strengthen. Relations with Slovakia and Japan are also developing.
As Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Belarus Nguyen Van Trung noted, the Vietnamese side sees with great satisfaction how the practical results of the forum continue to grow year after year, while the long-standing friendship has already reached the level of a genuine strategic partnership. According to the ambassador, Belarusians can always rely on Vietnam’s support in international projects. Nguyen Van Trung also invited Belarusian enterprises to establish assembly lines in Vietnam and increase supplies of dairy and other high-quality products. In turn, Vietnam is prepared to expand exports of fruit, coffee, rice, and seafood. Gomel itself, according to the ambassador, could become a key distribution hub for goods moving from Asia to the West.
Foreign guests expressed confidence that the anniversary forum would open new opportunities for expanding cooperation in all areas. Key sectors of mutual interest were identified, including mechanical engineering, the agro-industrial complex, scientific technologies and artificial intelligence, and education.
During the forum, landmark cooperation documents between organizations and regions were signed. These included memorandums of intent in the areas of digital development for housing and utilities, education and tourism with “Sber Bank”, infrastructure development and modernization of the “Mashinostroitel” health resort, establishment of an industrial park with the Gomel-Raton Free Economic Zone, reconstruction of a workshop at OJSC “Krasny Mozyryanin”, modernization of a product preservation workshop with the experimental base “Krinichnaya”, and several other projects.
At the plenary session, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Rogachev District Executive Committee and “Logon Agrosanoat Lux” LLC from Uzbekistan’s Fergana Region. Overall, agreements totaling more than 100 million BYN were signed.
As part of the forum, solemn rallies were held at Vosstaniya Square and Truda Square in Gomel. Participants paid tribute to and honored the heroes and victims of the Great Patriotic War.
Within the framework of the XX Gomel Economic Forum, a strategic session titled “Artificial Intelligence – Opportunities for Application in Business Processes” was held in Rechitsa.
The session focused on improving production efficiency through the use of AI, training and workforce development in the context of digital transformation, data sovereignty, and cybersecurity as a foundation of enterprise operations.
At the International Business Academy of “Belorusneft”, participants visited a mobile VR laboratory, the DrillSIM-500 drilling simulator with a cyber-chair for drill operators, and also explored presentations of interactive courses on the digital platform.
Today, the southeastern region of Belarus is hosting the “Gomel–Bryansk” Forum.
A rich business program has been scheduled.
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The meeting combined both a business-oriented and warm atmosphere. It brought together women leading businesses of various scales — from small enterprises to major industrial companies.
It is difficult to imagine any sphere without women. Many hold leadership positions and actively participate in public life. Qualities such as the ability to negotiate and set clear goals help them successfully meet challenges and achieve results. At the same time, they remain caring wives, mothers, grandmothers, and sisters, preserving family comfort and giving love to their relatives.
Tatyana Lisitsina, Deputy of the Regional Council of Deputies and General Director of the Spartak Joint Open Joint Stock Company, noted that women make up 70 percent of the factory’s workforce of nearly two thousand employees. Lyudmila Sapego, Member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, Deputy of the Regional Council of Deputies, and General Director of the enterprise “Pharmacia”, cited her own organization as an example, where more than 90 percent of employees are women.
Antonina Yezhova, Deputy Head for Property Management of the Gomel-Raton Free Economic Zone Administration, presented an interesting portrait of a businesswoman in the Gomel Region: 40 years old, married, and holding a higher education degree. Traditionally, the most popular fields among women remain services, consulting, advertising, marketing, the beauty industry, design, and light industry. Overall, women entrepreneurs account for more than 40 percent of all people employed in business nationwide.
At “Spartak” and “Radamir”, participants became acquainted with production processes and modern technologies used to manufacture high-quality products, and also learned about the history and current development of the brands.
The first part of the V Regional Forum “Gomel–Bryansk” program featured an official meeting between Chairman of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee Ivan Krupko and Acting Governor Yegor Kovalchuk.
According to Ivan Krupko, by the end of 2025 Bryansk Region ranks fourth among Gomel Region’s trade partners. The main areas of cooperation include mechanical engineering, construction, meat processing, and the food industry. Cooperation in social areas is also actively developing.
“I am confident that the platforms prepared within the framework of the forum will allow us to implement new projects and find new growth points for further development,” Ivan Krupko summed up.
In turn, Yegor Kovalchuk thanked the Gomel Region for its hospitality and assured Belarusian colleagues that the course taken earlier by Bryansk Region toward cooperation with Gomel will continue.
“Our entire team is committed to this. Moreover, we are ready to explore additional areas of cooperation. There is no doubt that we are heading toward economic growth and new horizons,” he said.
The Acting Governor of Bryansk Region noted in particular that agricultural producers, farmers, and processing enterprises of the Russian region are ready to adopt the Gomel Region’s experience in closed-cycle meat and dairy production. Agreements in the housing construction sector have also been reached.
Strengthening socio-cultural ties will also continue, Yegor Kovalchuk expressed confidence.
“We are not just neighbors — our regions are brotherly. We are connected by family, historical, cultural, and economic ties.”
Flowers were laid at the legendary T-34 tank, the memorial dedicated to the victims of the genocide of the Belarusian people, and at the foot of the monument to Konstantin Rokossovsky.
Forum participants observed a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of the Great Patriotic War.
The manufacturer of closure systems for the alcoholic and cosmetics industries is developing innovative medical products and aims to increase their export potential.
Guests were introduced to a new production complex for medical devices, which began operations in December 2023.
Due to the expansion of production capacities, the company’s product portfolio will include pump sprayers, aerosol valve systems, nasal and laryngeal actuators, pen injectors, and auto-injectors.
Forum participants also learned about the benefits available to residents of the Free Economic Zone, as well as examined the company’s employee social support system.
Friendly hockey matches between teams from the Gomel and Bryansk regions have become a good tradition. Today, “Gomel” played against “Starodub”.
The match was officially opened by Chairman of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee Ivan Krupko and Acting Governor of the Bryansk Region Yegor Kovalchuk. They performed the ceremonial face-off, wished the players an exciting game, and the fans vivid emotions.
Sports cooperation between the Belarusian and Russian regions continues to actively develop. Only in 2025, 50 tournaments in various sports have been held, including hockey, martial arts, gymnastics, and others.
The game ended with a victory for “Gomel”.
Most of the technical innovations presented by young and very young inventors have already passed testing and are ready for production. Some have already received implementation certificates.
Students from the leading universities of the Gomel Region, college students, and schoolchildren presented their inventions to exhibition guests, including visitors from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Among the participants were finalists of the BRSM competition “100 Ideas for Belarus”.
Among the most notable innovations were developments aimed at import substitution and direct economic benefit due to their affordability and high efficiency. These included advanced diagnostic devices capable of detecting failures in engines, machinery units, and electrical equipment; mobile bridges for small water obstacles — lightweight, durable, quickly assembled, and designed for long-term use; metal powders for restoring worn machine parts; composite materials for oil purification; and a wide range of innovations in the field of medicine, including psychology.
Young inventors also presented developments designed for people with disabilities. Among them was an assistant system enabling users to control a computer by voice without a keyboard or mouse, as well as an electronic guidance device for visually impaired people that attaches to footwear and helps with navigation through sound and tactile signals.
Naturally, robots capable not only of entertainment but also of performing practical tasks were also showcased. There was no shortage of interesting, surprising, and genuinely useful devices. Among them were a water purification system for country wells based on banana peel technology and an acoustic fire extinguishing device capable of suppressing flames using sound waves.
As part of the session, a smart gazebo was officially opened near the building of the “Coral” Technopark. In addition to providing shelter from rain and sun, it can answer questions through the voice assistant Alice and also charge phones and gadgets.
During the plenary session, participants discussed the prospects for innovative activity in Belarus and specifically in the Gomel Region. They exchanged views on the implementation of scientific and technical solutions and the expansion of innovation infrastructure capabilities in the region and the country. Special attention was paid to increasing youth involvement in innovation activities.
Several important documents were signed during the session, including a cooperation agreement between the Sukhoi P.O. Gomel State Technical University and the State Enterprise “Agency for Development and Investment Promotion”, as well as a Protocol of Intent between the Administration of the Gomel-Raton Free Economic Zone and LLC Luxproekt.
The session program concluded with an engaging tour of the “Gomelglass” enterprise, where participants were introduced to the production process of high-tech glass products and shown the entire manufacturing chain — from raw materials to finished products.
Dear friends and partners!
I present to your attention the investment potential of the Gomel region that is the lagest region of Belarus with a powerful industrial complex, modern infrastructure and rich natural resources.
The basis for sustainable development is strong business ties. Our region has successful experience of interregional and international cooperation in both the production and social spheres. We have the ability to find common ground and build paths to achieve common goals.
The regional authorities are purposefully creating a favorable investment climate and comprehensively supporting initiatives aimed at increasing competitiveness, developing innovations and developing new markets.
Gomel region is interested in expanding the circle of reliable partners and ready to support mutually beneficial projects focused on long-term effects and profitability of investments.
I am confident that the forum will serve as a convincing confirmation of the attractiveness of the region for new investors and will open up further promising areas for developing cooperation with time-tested and proven partners.
