JUSTIFICATION OF THE NEED TO ASSESS THE POTENTIAL OF CLUSTERS IN THE SPHERE OF DEVELOPMENT OF IMPORT-SUBSTITUTING AND EXPORT-ORIENTED PRODUCTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

The key aspects confirming the relevance of studying the cluster potential and its applicability for import-substituting and export-oriented production in the Republic of Belarus are reflected. The article substantiates the necessity and possibility of assessing the cluster potential to identify weaknesses and strengths of cluster associations and to develop directions for their further development in the sphere of import-substituting and export-oriented production. It is revealed that the research covers only the categories of ‘regional potential’ and ‘cluster potential’, which is not sufficient to characterize all stages of the cluster life cycle and to determine the directions of its development. The article identifies the factors that play a key role in justifying the relevance of studying the potential of clusters in the Republic of Belarus, including in the sphere of import substitution and export orientation. The results of the analysis of indicators of foreign trade of the Republic of Belarus with the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and outside it, as well as the results of normative-legal support of the directions of formation and development of clusters in the Republic of Belarus have been provided.