The biggest world's fast food chain plans to open 28 new restaurants in Belarus. The investments have been frozen for almost 18 years.
The first three McDonald’s were open in Minsk in 1996 and since then noting happened. 18 years passed since then - McDonald’s opened its next restaurant just now - in July 2014 r. in Vitebsk – north-east Belarus.
The representative of the company told the newspaper “Sielka Hazeta” that following restaurants will open by the end of this year in: Homel, Brest, Grodno, Mohylew and in 2015 in: Borosow, Novopolock, Orsha, Soligorsk, Mozyr and Barnovichi. The company wants also to enter smaller tourist tows and even bigger willages.
On the launch of single McDonald's restaurant would cost approximately 2.5 million dollars. Each facility will employ 100 people. – said Belsat the head of the department business development Mr. Siarhei Sidorovich.
According to economist Mikhal Zaleski, McDonald's recently solved the dispute with the Belarusian State University. The Misunderstanding related to the construction of one of the university buildings on the land leased by an American company for long-term. As a result, already built restaurant has not been open for 10 years and only two years ago began to sell its burgers.
"The main thing is that McDonald's may encourage other foreign investors - the companies thus receive a signal that - here you can work and do business" - said the expert. In his opinion, the development of restaurant chain have a positive impact on other sectors of the economy: agriculture, food processing, logistics, etc." - Mr. Zaleski said.
Zaleski believes, however, that the investments of the American company will not result in the influx of high technologies. Also, the total sum of investments is not staggering as to the investment needs of the country.
