Minsk Oblast is located in the center of the Republic. Together with Minsk, the Oblast occupies 19.4% of the country’s territory, 15.3% of the population reside here. The Oblast comprises 22 districts, 307 rural councils, 22 towns, including 8 towns of Oblast jurisdiction, 20 urbanized settlements.

The Oblast is the only one in Belarus that does not border on foreign countries; however, thanks to the important transport corridors running via its territory it is well-positioned for establishing advantageous economic ties with neighboring and Western countries.

Machine engineering and chemical industry dominate the structure of industries. Also, agricultural processing is well developed in the Oblast. The Oblast occupies the first place in the country in the production of food products, flour and mixed feed.

The most important mineral resources mined in the Oblast are potassium and rock salt, peat, building materials, sapropel, chalk, pyroschist, iron ore, mineral water, etc.

A majority of agricultural districts are involved in meat and milk production, pig breeding and potato growing, flax cultivation and, in the South-West, sugar beet growing. In the vicinity of Minsk and other major cities the agricultural farms additionally specialize in growing vegetables and fruit. There are also lapoultry farms and poultry processing factories.

The natural complex of the Oblast has a great potential for developing recreation facilities and tourism. Miadel district is the place where the Naroch lakes are located with superb conditions for providing recreation services and medical treatment, and the Blue Lakes nature reserve, part of the Belarusian Poozeriye (Lake District). Also, the Oblast includes a major part of the Berezinsky Biospheric Nature Preserve, with unique natural landscape complexes preserved, natural processes and events studied, environmental and ecological education carried out.

For more information please visit the website of Minsk Oblast Executive Committee