The Belarus Business Barometer (March 2025) offers an updated overview of the entrepreneurial landscape shaped by Belarusian businesses in the EU, with a focus on companies owned by Belarusian shareholders and self-employed individuals.
Key findings include:
Migration and Business Relocation: Since the fraudulent 2020 presidential election and intensified by sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Belarusian entrepreneurs have increasingly relocated to the EU. As of early 2025, over 9,300 businesses with Belarusian shareholders were registered in the EU — 80% of them in Poland — and more than 20,000 sole proprietorships were established by Belarusians across member states.
Employment and Economic Impact: Belarusian-owned businesses have created at least 25,800 jobs in the EU, especially in Poland and Lithuania. These companies are active across retail, transport, construction, and IT, with the Polish market alone generating over €2 billion in revenue in 2023.
Challenges: Despite their growth, Belarusian entrepreneurs in the EU face persistent obstacles, including high taxes, limited access to financing, falling demand, and difficulties with integration and bureaucratic procedures.
Entrepreneurial Activity: About 18% of Belarusians living in the EU are self-employed or own businesses, while another 29% are planning to start one — with IT services remaining a leading field, especially among sole proprietors.
Sectoral Success: The Belarusian IT and logistics sectors are particularly visible, with some companies ranking among the top performers in Poland’s business landscape and contributing significantly to local job creation and innovation.
The report highlights the determination and adaptability of Belarusian entrepreneurs, who have become an increasingly dynamic part of the EU’s economic fabric, even amid political repression and displacement.
