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The exhibition center is equipped with the latest technology and takes into account all modern trends and requirements for such facilities. The total exhibition area is more than 22 thousand square meters, the total area of the center is more than 37 thousand square meters. The complex includes conference halls, congress halls, and meeting rooms.

Before the ceremony, Aleksandr Lukashenko informed officials that this center should be like a modern museum. There should be a permanent exhibition here so that everyone can see what Belarusians do.

The permanent exhibition should show what our country has achieved

«As we once agreed, today we are opening a new page in the annals of our sovereign Belarus. We have called this miracle the International Exhibition Center,» said Aleksandr Lukashenko at the solemn ceremony. The President said that back in Soviet times he was very impressed by the old exhibition center in Minsk. «I didn’t think that Belarus could do all this,» he admitted. «But that was in those days. I remember with a smile those moments when I went to this center and compare that exhibition with the modern ones, of which I have seen many, dozens of these exhibitions in the world. I gasped. I didn’t know that.»

Aleksandr Lukashenko asked the young people present at the event whether they knew everything that Belarusians are capable of doing, what we have achieved, especially in the post-Soviet period. He noted that few people would answer that they knew everything or at least some of it, but only the best. «That is why I had the idea to build this center, to place there on a permanent basis the highest achievements of our country, our sovereign Belarus. That is, this is what we did ourselves. Not as part of a huge country, but ourselves, Belarusians, with our own minds and hands,» the Head of State said.

«Such a large-scale project is a matter of time»

Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled how it all began. Arab investors asked the President to allow them to implement the project to build a «smart city.» «They didn’t expect me to go for it. And they brought me such pictures, including an exhibition center to interest me. A complex configuration — a stork, Belarus, and so on, they drew beautifully. I said: okay, I agree. They were speechless. They expected something else. I said: but you will do exactly what you drew. They invited designers from all over Europe here, they watched, drew, and sketched. Look: they did it. I am grateful to them,» said Aleksandr Lukashenko. The President added that investors have invested enormous amounts of money in the project, are building a «smart city,» and Belarus is ready to continue cooperation with them.

«Modern, without excesses... And a stork hovering over a picturesque corner of the capital... It is designed to show the world the rich potential, talent and achievements that make up the heritage of the Belarusian nation. This is a symbolic gift for the anniversary of the Great Victory. It is based on the best world experience and the most advanced technologies,» the Head of State described the new center. He noted that the project was developed by foreign specialists, and Belarusians embodied it in reality. «Well done. So, we know how to do it,» the President stated. «Our people did a great job. The unique exhibition space is ready to host events of any level and allows you to see yourself from the outside through high technologies.»
This year, Minsk will host the Eurasian Economic Forum. Aleksandr Lukashenko said that there are plans to hold it at the IEC.

Everything is provided here for holding events of this level.

«Such a large-scale project is a matter of time. We have conquered space with you, we launch satellites, we create the world’s largest quarry dump trucks, electric buses and unmanned aerial vehicles and much more,» Aleksandr Lukashenko listed. «I want to ask again: who among you has seen this? They didn’t even show it to me in the complex, although I coordinated each project separately. But in the complex, from a UAV to the most serious 400-ton dump truck (which we are the only ones in the world to make) — no one has seen it. And who knows that these huge dump trucks have already become electric vehicles, and we produce them on gas engine fuel? Almost no one. We must show Belarusians that we did it, and that some things are the only ones at the level of world standards.»

If we don’t create objects of the future, we will be constantly vulnerable

In this regard, the President emphasized that quality should become the brand of our country. He explained why this five-year plan would be a five-year plan of quality. «Many people know how to do everything we produce. And we want to produce and sell it. And in order to sell, we need to compete in the toughest conditions,» the Belarusian leader said. As an example, he gave another unique object created by Belarusian specialists — the Palace of Independence. Since it is open to the public, many visited it and saw how Belarusians know how to build. Foreign guests were also interested. «They saw that we built such a national creation quickly, in two and a half years. We built it qualitatively, intelligently, our designers did it. Therefore, having shown this, we must build where they ask us,» the President emphasized.

Another example is the Belarusian nuclear power plant. Aleksandr Lukashenko said that his condition was that the station should be built by Russian specialists only together with Belarusian colleagues, for whom it would be the best training in the creation of such facilities. And Belarusians learned. Now they are in demand on similar projects in other countries. The President emphasized that the meaning of life lies in constant learning and improvement. «If we do not focus on the future, if we do not create facilities of the future, we will be constantly vulnerable, they will stab us in the back,» he insists.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarus will stand next to other countries, but for this we must be interesting to those who stand next to us. We must be able to do everything with our own hands. And this was the idea behind the creation of Minsk International Exhibition Center. The President noted that this is just another work. He reminded that a museum of Belarusian statehood will soon be created. The goal of the future National Historical Museum is to show that our land gave birth to Belarusians a long time ago, even long before other peoples. The new museum will reflect the entire thousand-year history of our country. «We must show this, first of all, to our children, to ourselves, that we are from there. And this is what we have achieved during this time. Probably, this is a normal concept for the development of our Belarusian state,» the Belarusian leader said. According to him, this should also be shown to our foreign friends and partners. Aleksandr Lukashenko gave Zimbabwe as an example.

Cooperation with this African country is not limited only to trade. The Belarusian side sincerely shares experience and teaches specialists. «They understood that we are not colonizers, as some were before — the French, the English and others. We came with good. We want to give them technology and teach them. For them today, the main thing is to feed the people. Can we do it? We can,» the Belarusian leader emphasized.

We need to preserve a peaceful, calm country

«We live, dear friends, in difficult times. I once forbade talking about this and I do not regret it — sanctions are strangling us from all sides. They are trying to strangle us. But we live, and not just live, but even create unique objects of the future, like this one,» Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. «Everything depends on us. Let us, as I have often said, work hard at our workplaces.» He emphasized that all that is required of people is to work honestly in their place. And the government will do its own thing — the vertical has been built. The Head of State noted that a new generation has now come to power, which, working with older colleagues, is adopting their experience. «True patriots have appeared. People who love their country, who want to preserve their country. Not even so much for themselves, but for their children,» the Belarusian leader noted. «We live in a peaceful, calm country. We need to preserve it. This is especially true on the eve of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in that terrible war.» The Head of State emphasized that there are many chaos and unstable points around that can develop. And, according to him, it is important for us to prevent the development of scenarios unfavorable for Belarus. «We need to protect our country. Let’s work peacefully, live and look at our achievements, created by our own hands,» the Belarusian leader urged.

Returning to Minsk International Exhibition Center, in particular to what inscription would be appropriate on its facade, Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled the words of the classic, Aleksandr Pushkin, who wrote: «I erected a monument to myself, not made by hands, the people’s path will not overgrow to it.» «Addressing you, the Belarusian people, whose hands created all this, I would write here: «He (the Belarusian people) erected a monument to himself, he is man-made, the people’s path will not overgrow to him,» said the Head of State.

«Everything must be directed towards the future»

The Head of State personally got acquainted with the capabilities of the new exhibition complex. But first of all, the President got acquainted with the implementation of the «Northern Shore» project. The Chairperson of Minsk City Executive Committee, Vladimir Kukharev, informed about the stages of development of the territory and the progress of the work. Everything is being carried out according to the schedule. «Don’t forget just one thing when you supervise (I also drive by, looking): everything must be directed towards the future. This is all towards the future, starting from kindergarten, school and ending with a «smart city,» the President set the task.

«Every meter should say something»

Aleksandr Lukashenko also viewed the exhibition dedicated to the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. The exhibition is organized with new approaches. As Deputy Prime Minister Uladzimir Karanik explained, the emphasis is not on museum exhibits, but on modern interactive means, so that young people are interested in and penetrate the history of the Great Patriotic War. Video films using 3D graphics, holograms, virtual reality glasses and LED screens help in this. After the exhibition, this equipment will be used to modernize the permanent exhibition of the Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War and hold temporary exhibitions.

Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled the new film «Not on the Lists». The film tells the story of the defense of Brest Fortress, which was the first to take the enemy’s blow. The President admitted that he liked the film and advised everyone to watch it. The exhibition opens with a stand dedicated to Brest Fortress. And with the help of a hologram, one of the episodes of its defense was even recreated.

To fully immerse the Head of State in the history of wartime, a small theatrical production was presented — Belarusian artists recreated a concert by Soviet singer Lidia Ruslanova near the Reichstag. She went down in history for raising the fighting spirit of Soviet soldiers at the front during the war. «Well done, great! My dear! That’s it, I’m starting to restore my skills in playing the accordion... There’s no time left. But if someone would teach me again... But well done, great! Both adults and very young people play,» the President shared his impressions. And he asked the responsible persons whether his instruction to restore the production of musical instruments had been fulfilled. Work in this direction is underway, but Aleksandr Lukashenko set the task of returning to this issue. He highly appreciated the exhibition itself and emphasized that it should be shown to everyone.

Another instruction to officials is to fully utilize the exhibition center and on a permanent basis. «Every meter should tell something. We need people to come in and gasp: there is something to defend themselves with (they saw it at the parade), look at the tractors, cars, and other things and gasp,» the Belarusian leader emphasized. There is also a political aspect to this. Aleksandr Lukashenko called the international exhibition center an example of peaceful cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

The President was the first to leave an entry in the book of honored guests of Minsk International Exhibition Center.

It should be noted that the exhibition dedicated to the 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory will be open at the International Exhibition Center until July 5.

Valeria Stetsko
Photo by BelTA