During last years the Republic of Belarus has witnessed the tendency of active development of investments including foreign investments. Foreign business strengthens its positions in our regions. Not only small undertakers, but investors with a rather large capital come to our region.

The existing mutually beneficial partnership includes a number of promising directions. They are: direct investments, share holding, organization of joint-ventures.

As a developed industrial and agricultural centre Zhlobin area is most attractive for investors in our opinion.

The region has all conditions required for attraction of internal and external investments.

First of all, it has advantageous economical and geographical position, a big industrial potential, a developed transport infrastructure, power, water, labour and mineral resources.

At the beginning of the presentation I would like roughly to speak about Zhlobin district.
Zhlobin district is situated in the north-west of Gomel region. It borders upon Rogachev, Buda-Koshelev, Rechitsa and Svetlogorsk districts of Gomel region and Bobruisk district of Mogilev region.
Zhlobin is only 150 km away from the Russian and Ukrainian border. This minimizes the cost of transportation.

The area of the district is 2100 sq. km, including Zhlobin – 28 sq. km.
Population of the district is 106,0 thousand people. Representatives of 56 nationalities live in the district.

The town of Zhlobin is a big railway junction of the Republic of Belarus. Availability of international railway and motor service allows the district to communicate with Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Baltic States and Transcaucasian Republics. Besides, two big rivers flow in the district: the Dnieper and the Berezina which are also thruways for shipping.

All these advantages give the district the possibility of increasing the industrial potential, to attract considerable investments, to create conditions for developing a wide range of services.

Today Zhlobin has a highly-developed industrial potential.
Share of the district’s industrial production in the regional figures makes up 20%.
20 industrial enterprises operate on this territory. Leading branches are: ferrous metallurgy, food manufacturing, woodworking and light industry.
 
Main products manufactured by these enterprises are: rolled material and tire cord, ready-made garments, artificial knitted cloth, meat and milk products, furniture, etc.

Zhlobin district is an export-oriented area. Products are exported from Zhlobin district to more than 60 countries.

The principal trade partners are: Russia, China, Italy, Taiwan, Poland, Great Britain, Germany, the USA, etc.

There are many places of interest, picturesque and historical places, architectural constructions of different epochs and styles in Zhlobin district that may attract tourists.
 Palace and park ensemble in the village of Krasnyi Bereg is included in the “Golden Ring of Gomel Region” and contains unique architectural exhibits of the 19th century and a park with rare types of trees and a memorial “To the Children – War Victims”.

Zhlobin district is characterized by an attractive investment climate in the sphere of hotel business, trade and tourism which is determined by the following factors:
- high salaries and wages;
- the level of commodity turnover in the area is one of the highest in the region and the Republic;
- qualified labour force;
- stable and predictable situation in the economy.

The Centre for Olympic Reserve Training in swimming and hockey was commissioned in 2006. It contains a skating rink for 2000 spectators, a swimming pool with 10 swimming lanes each 50 m long, aquapark and training facilities, saunas and a solarium.

This object is designed for mass sport events and competitions of different levels in swimming, hockey, figure skating and - in future - in rowing.

The town of Zhlobin requires comfortable hotels to accommodate about 300 of visitors who come to see our sport events and visit historical and cultural objects.

The existing hotel infrastructure cannot meet growing requirements of a large toll centre as less than two hundred (200) people can be accommodated in the existing hotels while the requirement is up to 500 people.
 
For example, world hotel capacity is 60-75%.

Based on the marketing investigation in tourism infrastructure of Gomel region, annual hotel capacity factor in Zhlobin is 68%, while average hotel capacity in Gomel region makes up only 45% which determines the requirement in constructing additional hotels (hotel complexes).

The aggregate of all the above factors make it necessary to develop hotel business in this area and shows the expediency and perspectives of the suggested project.
 

The investment project we would like to propose to you is “Construction of hotel or a hotels complex in Zhlobin to accommodate tourists and sportsmen.”

The aim of the project is first of all to expand hotel network of the district.
Estimated cost of the project: EUR 8-10 mio.

We think that the most efficient form of participation of an investor in this project can be direct investments including construction of objects on leased sites.
Estimated term of realization of the project: 4-5 years.
We would like to suggest several variants of location of the hotel complex. All sites are located in the central part of the town.

One of the sites suggested for the hotel complex is located in Bartashov street, the area of the site is 0,5 ha.

The site is situated close to the Palace of Culture of Metallurgists. Technical service lines available: water, gas, sewage. Distance from the railway station and bus terminal is 700 m. Method of providing the land: 50-year rent. Initial price of the tenant right is USD39.6 thousand.

Another site for the hotel complex that we suggest is the site near the crossing of Pervomaiskaya and K. Marx streets; the site area is 0,5 ha.

The site is situated in a picturesque place near the Dnieper river close to Pridneprovski park and the Palace of Sport. Distance from the railway station, the bus terminal, and the Olympic Reserve Center is 1 km. Technical service lines are available. Method of providing the land: 50-year rent. Initial price of the tenant right is USD33.4 thousand.

The hotel situated on this site will be in concord with the existing buildings.

We suggest one more variant of developing the hotel complex: unused building of the former military unit quarters. This object is in a good state.
One more project we would like to suggest you is technical re-equipment of the PC “Zlobin canning factory”. Realization of this project will allow increase of competitiveness and provision of high-quality canned fruits and vegetables and juices. Closeness to railway station (1 km), availability of production facilities and qualified specialists will allow arrangement of vitaminous products manufacturing in accordance with the type of the enterprise and investor’s requests.
ect price is USD 400-500 thousand.
Form of an investor’s participation: buying of a share holding in the amount of 10% and organization of a joint production.
Project realization term: 2 years.
Payback term: 3-5 years.

Investment project for construction of a shopping and entertainment centre in Zhlobin. Total project price is over USD 15 mio. Shopping area is 20 thousand m2. The object includes: a hypermarket, parking for 500 cars, bowling, a restaurant, pizzeria.

We think that our proposals will arouse a real interest of prospective investors as these projects have prospects for further development. This is one of the directions of our cooperation. We are open for considering your proposals.
We are interested in establishing steady contacts and offer everybody mutually advantageous cooperation in the area of investment.
We are waiting for you to come to hospitable Zlobin!