Belarus marks 20 years since 3rd Belarusian People’s Congress
02.03.2026
MINSK (
BelTA) – Twenty years ago, on 2–3 March 2006, Minsk hosted the 3rd Belarusian People’s Congress, which brought together 2,500 delegates, BelTA has learned.
By the time of the Congress, the country had achieved significant results, having fulfilled the key targets of the 2001–2005 social and economic development program. All the goals set at the 2nd Belarusian People’s Congress were achieved and put into practice.
In his address, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that the chosen course of national development had proven to be correct, as evidenced by high economic growth rates. “Drawing on real life needs, we have developed our own model of development, based on balanced, well-considered, evolutionary reforms,” he said, explaining the reasons for this success.
According to the major results of the social and economic development over the five-year period, the people’s living standards significantly increased and the structure of consumer spending improved. Belarus not only preserved but strengthened its system of state social support for various population groups.
Gross domestic product continued to grow steadily. In 2005, the state allocated almost twice as many resources to economic and social development as it had at the start of the five-year period in 2000. Capital investment and funding for agriculture increased nearly fourfold, for industry doubled, for transport doubled, and for housing construction grew by almost 1.5 times.
In the new five-year period, the priority was set as a fundamental improvement in people’s quality of life. This goal went far beyond wage growth: it included housing, education, accessible medical care, childcare facilities, guaranteed employment, public safety, and more. It was determined that the new stage of state-building would proceed under the motto A State for the People, for the Individual.
Participants of the 3rd Belarusian People’s Congress approved the social and economic development program of Belarus for 2006–2010 and adopted a corresponding resolution.
The resolution expressed support for the national priorities proposed by the country’s leadership, including: comprehensive and harmonious human development based on rising real incomes; an innovation-driven economic model; energy and resource efficiency; strengthening export potential through improved competitiveness of domestic products; development of the agro-industrial complex and the social revival of rural areas; housing construction; and the social and economic development of small and medium-sized towns.
From 2006 to 2010, Belarus pursued a program-based modernization of the economy, upgrading not just individual enterprises but entire sectors. During this five-year period, more than 320 industrial enterprises were modernized and over 500 new technologies were introduced. Belarus ranked first among CIS countries in per capita housing construction, surpassing several other countries worldwide.
By the time of the Congress, the country had achieved significant results, having fulfilled the key targets of the 2001–2005 social and economic development program. All the goals set at the 2nd Belarusian People’s Congress were achieved and put into practice.
In his address, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that the chosen course of national development had proven to be correct, as evidenced by high economic growth rates. “Drawing on real life needs, we have developed our own model of development, based on balanced, well-considered, evolutionary reforms,” he said, explaining the reasons for this success.
According to the major results of the social and economic development over the five-year period, the people’s living standards significantly increased and the structure of consumer spending improved. Belarus not only preserved but strengthened its system of state social support for various population groups.
Gross domestic product continued to grow steadily. In 2005, the state allocated almost twice as many resources to economic and social development as it had at the start of the five-year period in 2000. Capital investment and funding for agriculture increased nearly fourfold, for industry doubled, for transport doubled, and for housing construction grew by almost 1.5 times.
In the new five-year period, the priority was set as a fundamental improvement in people’s quality of life. This goal went far beyond wage growth: it included housing, education, accessible medical care, childcare facilities, guaranteed employment, public safety, and more. It was determined that the new stage of state-building would proceed under the motto A State for the People, for the Individual.
Participants of the 3rd Belarusian People’s Congress approved the social and economic development program of Belarus for 2006–2010 and adopted a corresponding resolution.
The resolution expressed support for the national priorities proposed by the country’s leadership, including: comprehensive and harmonious human development based on rising real incomes; an innovation-driven economic model; energy and resource efficiency; strengthening export potential through improved competitiveness of domestic products; development of the agro-industrial complex and the social revival of rural areas; housing construction; and the social and economic development of small and medium-sized towns.
From 2006 to 2010, Belarus pursued a program-based modernization of the economy, upgrading not just individual enterprises but entire sectors. During this five-year period, more than 320 industrial enterprises were modernized and over 500 new technologies were introduced. Belarus ranked first among CIS countries in per capita housing construction, surpassing several other countries worldwide.