Belarus

Belarus is an Eastern Europe country that gained independence from the USSR only in 1991. From this year on, the country opened to free trade but, because of the lack of any consequent production industry, Belarus had to cope with an acute consumer goods crisis that dragged the economy during several years. Besides, as most people could not afford to launch their own business after the collapse of the Soviet Union, importations from abroad began to develop actively. Nowadays though, twenty years after the country’s independence, Belarus can display a relatively modern retail sector. Five strong hypermarket chains (including Euroopt ltd) currently control about 80 % of the country’s retail market.