Conditions for Trade Exchange Between Eastern Polish and Belarusian Enterprises: Research Results

Purpose: This paper aims to evaluate the key determinants influencing trade between business enterprises in the eastern provinces of Poland and their partners in Belarus. Design/Methodology/Approach: Causal analysis method supported by quantitative data was employed. At the macroeconomic level, factors such as the value of exports, imports, turnover, and the balance of Polish-Belarusian international trade were analyzed. Additionally, the average share of Polish provinces in overall Polish trade and Polish-Belarusian trade was examined, with a specific focus on the contribution of the Podlaskie province. Partial findings from a survey conducted between 2021 and 2023 among 131 enterprises from Podlasie were used, covering their international activities from 2004 to 2020. Findings: Business enterprises from eastern Poland, including the Podlaskie province, encounter significant political and economic barriers when trading with Belarus. The analysis also revealed that the Podlaskie province, compared to other Polish provinces, faces greater challenges in accessing EU markets but has a much higher share of Polish-Belarusian trade, underscoring its strategic importance in trade relations with Belarus. Practical implications: The partial study of 131 Podlasie entrepreneurs’ international activities provides valuable insights that are relevant both theoretically and practically. Originality: This article strives to fill a gap in the relevant literature, particularly in the area of interprovincial variation in the structure of the exchange of goods of the total Polish foreign trade and even more in the area of regional (interprovincial) trade relations with Belarus.