For over a week now, the Minsk International Exhibition Center has been showcasing the country's achievements and its tourism and cultural potential. Vibrant photo zones, interactive exhibits, thematic sections dedicated to key economic sectors, and a rich cultural and educational program... The organizers of the My Belarus project have once again made an effort to impress visitors. On weekends, the venue is particularly crowded: residents of Minsk come to see the large-scale exhibition with their families or in groups of friends. Among the visitors are also many guests from outside the capital. BelTA correspondents have captured the atmosphere at the exhibition.
Even on the approach to the BelExpo center, you can sense the lively atmosphere. A huge, illuminated BELAZ giant dump truck immediately catches the eye. Both children and adults gladly take photos with the massive vehicle. In the evening, the mining truck glows with hundreds of lights.
The exhibitions spans across two halls. One of them features zones dedicated to industry, science, medicine, sports, agriculture, and the security sector. The main idea is to present Belarus as a modern, technologically advanced, and self-sufficient country that confidently looks toward the future.
The agricultural industry surprises with its large-scale installation “From Region to Table”. Visitors can learn where their favorite brands are produced and what achievements have been made in agriculture al production over the years of sovereignty. The display “From Raw Material to Product” shows how dozens of product varieties originate from a single grain or seed.
An integral part of the exhibition includes VR farms, robotic milkers, agricultural drones, and other “smart farming” technologies. Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation is showcasing a mock-up of its plant and interactive screens featuring AI-generated content.
“We are from the town of Krugloye in Mogilev Oblast, and this is our first time here. We are thrilled! There are so many diverse zones! It's very educational. Friends recommended we visit the exhibition, and now we'll be recommending it to everyone. Our daughter loved the play areas and the space showcasing the changing seasons,” young mother Tatyana Brignevich said.
The smaller hall invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of pristine Belarusian nature and find inspiration for travel. At the stand of the National Tourism Agency, one can explore electronic portals and new brochures on various types of tourism. A relaxation zone has been set up, and a map showcasing sites of significant archaeological excavations in recent years is on display. Special emphasis is placed on Belarusian vytsinanka, the traditional art of paper cutting, which has been added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
National parks and forestries promote their services. Live spruce trees filled the space with the atmosphere of a real forest.
Nadezhda MATVEYEVA
Even on the approach to the BelExpo center, you can sense the lively atmosphere. A huge, illuminated BELAZ giant dump truck immediately catches the eye. Both children and adults gladly take photos with the massive vehicle. In the evening, the mining truck glows with hundreds of lights.
As soon as you open the doors of the complex, you step into a world of technology, creativity, and innovation. The main installation is designed as a large map of the country featuring iconic landmarks, lakes, rivers, and forests. On the reverse side is a sprawling oak tree with a multimedia screen at its center. Visitors are invited to leave their wishes on special postcards.
Particular excitement is generated by the spaces where you can experience the seasons, hear the sounds of nature, inhale the scent of a pine forest, or the fragrances of summer.
“Everything is splendid. The children loved it,” Roman Starovoitov from Rogachev said. He came to the exhibition with his wife Natalya, his son Timofey, and his two nephews Maksim and Dmitry. “We don’t often visit the capital. We saw a report on the evening program a few days ago and had a thought: it’s a long weekend, why not take a trip? We planned ourselves a weekend getaway. We are very pleased. There’s plenty for both us and the children to see. It’s interesting.”
Particular excitement is generated by the spaces where you can experience the seasons, hear the sounds of nature, inhale the scent of a pine forest, or the fragrances of summer.
“Everything is splendid. The children loved it,” Roman Starovoitov from Rogachev said. He came to the exhibition with his wife Natalya, his son Timofey, and his two nephews Maksim and Dmitry. “We don’t often visit the capital. We saw a report on the evening program a few days ago and had a thought: it’s a long weekend, why not take a trip? We planned ourselves a weekend getaway. We are very pleased. There’s plenty for both us and the children to see. It’s interesting.”
The boys enjoyed most being able to listen to animal sounds. “It feels very realistic. I loved the huge BELAZ truck too,” Maksim noted.
The exhibitions spans across two halls. One of them features zones dedicated to industry, science, medicine, sports, agriculture, and the security sector. The main idea is to present Belarus as a modern, technologically advanced, and self-sufficient country that confidently looks toward the future.
The agricultural industry surprises with its large-scale installation “From Region to Table”. Visitors can learn where their favorite brands are produced and what achievements have been made in agriculture al production over the years of sovereignty. The display “From Raw Material to Product” shows how dozens of product varieties originate from a single grain or seed.
An integral part of the exhibition includes VR farms, robotic milkers, agricultural drones, and other “smart farming” technologies. Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation is showcasing a mock-up of its plant and interactive screens featuring AI-generated content.
Families with children eagerly participated in various quests, interactive activities, and quizzes. Boys and girls tried on the |choice hat” with a robot career advisor, took test drives and engaged in hands-on experiences.
The “Progressive Medicine” zone displays the most intriguing healthcare projects. By putting on augmented reality glasses, visitors could take a stroll through a retro pharmacy or learn basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation on interactive simulators.
“We are from the town of Krugloye in Mogilev Oblast, and this is our first time here. We are thrilled! There are so many diverse zones! It's very educational. Friends recommended we visit the exhibition, and now we'll be recommending it to everyone. Our daughter loved the play areas and the space showcasing the changing seasons,” young mother Tatyana Brignevich said.
Viktoria Vorobyeva from Minsk, who visited the exhibition with her daughter Eva, was particularly impressed by the section dedicated to medicine. “We learned how to provide first aid, examined the exhibits. A video about the exhibition popped up on social media, so we decided to come. You could spend a long time walking around here,” she noted.
Among the most popular exhibits are those of the security agencies. For example, border guards have presented the document verification and vehicle inspection equipment along with a collection of document samples and counterfeit passports seized from border violators. Specialized vehicles, uniforms, and interactive simulators particularly capture the interest of the younger visitors.
The thematic zone titled “Engine of the Economy”, where industrial enterprises are showcasing their achievements, also attract many visitors. Among them were students from the Minsk Radio Engineering College of the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics. The group's supervisor, teacher Svetlana Makhnach, noted that the exhibitions are well-prepared. At each booth, staff provided detailed explanations of the displays. “We were captivated,” she admitted. “For example, visiting the weapons exhibition booth allows you to complete a young soldier's training course. It is not only educational but also engaging. Many innovative solutions related to artificial intelligence are on display. It is good for our youth to experience this.”
Maria Savchuk from Minsk visited the Minsk International Exhibition Center with her two daughters aged 13 and 8. She was pleasantly surprised by the thoughtfully organized layout. “The zones are arranged in such a way that every detail is meticulously crafted. It's rare to see children so deeply engaged in the world of science and technology. The interactive format makes the learning process truly captivating,” Maria remarked. “The specialists working here are eager to share their knowledge. The exhibition is exceptionally vibrant. Although we travel frequently and have been to many places, we’ve never seen anything like this before. We initially planned to spend just an hour here, but we’ve already been for two hours and haven’t even covered half of it. It’s wonderful that such a project has been brought to life. My Belarus has pleasantly surprised us, and I highly recommend it to everyone.”
The Science and Innovation thematic zone also draws considerable interest. This is an interactive space showcasing achievements from historical discoveries to modern breakthrough technologies. One of the exhibits is dedicated to space-related artifacts.
“The exhibition is truly impressive. The historical section is beautifully designed, and the industry expositions introduce visitors to the latest production innovations. I believe such projects are extremely important for our country,” Aleksei Malyuzhits from Minsk said, adding that he feels proud of Belarusians who have achieved significant success in many fields.
The smaller hall invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of pristine Belarusian nature and find inspiration for travel. At the stand of the National Tourism Agency, one can explore electronic portals and new brochures on various types of tourism. A relaxation zone has been set up, and a map showcasing sites of significant archaeological excavations in recent years is on display. Special emphasis is placed on Belarusian vytsinanka, the traditional art of paper cutting, which has been added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
The regional exhibits are designed as a journey across the country. Minsk presents itself through education, urban culture, creativity, youth initiatives, and mock-ups of iconic landmarks. Gomel Oblast and Mogilev Oblast focus on cultural heritage sites and traditional crafts, while Grodno Oblast highlights castles, unique glassware, and the Augustow Canal. Vitebsk Oblast is showcasing art and carpets.
In Brest Oblast, the most popular attractions are the mini-zoo and the partisan-themed Christmas tree, while Minsk Oblast reveals the secret to harmonizing heritage with progress. A separate stand is dedicated to Nesvizh Castle, the region’s main attraction.
National parks and forestries promote their services. Live spruce trees filled the space with the atmosphere of a real forest.
The exhibition runs until 23 February. On weekdays, it is open from 12.00 till 21.00 and on weekends from 11.00 till 21.00. Admission is free. Daily activities include tastings, concerts, theatrical performances, cartoon screenings, educational lectures, and workshops. The latest schedule, opening hours, and transportation routes are available on the BelExpo website and its Telegram account.
As the organizers note, the goal of the My Belarus exhibition is to instill in Belarusians a sense of pride, inspiration, confidence in themselves and their country, and a feeling of involvement in its future. It is an opportunity to become an explorer, gain new knowledge, and experience vivid impressions.
As the organizers note, the goal of the My Belarus exhibition is to instill in Belarusians a sense of pride, inspiration, confidence in themselves and their country, and a feeling of involvement in its future. It is an opportunity to become an explorer, gain new knowledge, and experience vivid impressions.
Nadezhda MATVEYEVA
Photos by Nikolai PETROV
BelTA
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