Since its launch in 2005 within the IFC Belarus Business Enabling Environment Project in 2005, the BEL.BIZ has become one of the most popular business information resources in Belarus. The portal targets companies owners and directors as well as entrepreneurs. BEL.BIZ is a winner of the Brand of the Year Competition in the Internet Project nomination in 2005 and the Socially-Responsible Brand nomination in 2006. According to an IFC survey conducted in March 2006, 48% of Belarusian SMEs are aware of BEL.BIZ.
Currently BEL.BIZ:
• Attracts 2,500 unique visitors a day;
• Features 90 rubrics;
• Contains more than 2,000 articles on practical aspects of business, law and economics;
• Offers 2,200 expert answers covering diverse aspects of doing business in Belarus;
• Partners with more than 100 leading law and consulting firms, banks, business associations, business publications and state agencies.
Partnership advantages
Partnership with the BEL.BIZ portal represents an opportunity for fostering business ties between Belarusian and foreign companies. Advantages and privileges enjoyed by a BEL.BIZ partner:
• Free online advertising on the portal valued at 500 dollars a month.
• The right to the portal’s logo and name in promotion campaigns.
• The right to initiate joint project with the portal and use the portal’s resources for the implementation of these projects.
• The right to tap the advisory support of the portal experts, IFC and other partners;
• The priority right to act a contractor for BEL.BIZ projects.
The partnership arrangement may comprise the following joint activities:
1. General information exchange
The partners exchange of content/information about their countries:
• General information about the business environment: key lines of business and country-specific business features;
• Taxation of individuals and legal entities;
• Business registration procedures;
• Labor force – hiring procedures and basics of labor legislation;
• Availability of loans, average interest rates, state support available to residents and non-residents; and
• Useful links.
2. Fee-based and Free Services
Partners may develop a procedure for rendering fee-based and free services to portal users. The availability of free services is preferable. A partner must offer discounts to portal users if a link or reference promoting the service is placed on BEL.BIZ. Below is the list of issues on which a partner may provide information:
• Check if a foreign partner is registered with a business register;
• Search for potential partners following a user’s request (up to 3 contacts) using information services or yellow pagers catalogues.
Partners should promote the advertising potential of their sites in their countries.
3. Q&A
Partners are expected to provide answers to questions from their clients (portal users) regarding the country they are covering. Any limitations in this regard shall be laid down by the partner. The answers will be published on the portal BEL.BIZ and partner’s sites.
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Partnership 