The History of the IBB “Johannes Rau” Minsk

A building of dialogue

In the twenty years since its founding, IBB ‘Johannes Rau’ Minsk has developed into a place of encounter widely recognised beyond the borders of Belarus.

Its trademark is a sophisticated, dialogue-oriented educational programme, both reactive to the social challenges of the post-Soviet era and the pressing problems of our globalised present. Its most important goal is to enable factual, constructive communication and information flow between the different actors in state and society, business, media and churches, between experts and laypeople, between East and West, between Belarus and Europe.

A competent partner in decision making processes

IBB Minsk has established itself as a cosmopolitan partner in the development of civil society in Belarus, as well as a competent partner in consultation processes for decision makers in Belarussian institutions and ministries.

Today, it is one of the most important points of contact in seeing through and moderation difficult dialogue processes in the country, in innovative projects and in conveying knowledge. By now it is as confident working on a regional and local level as in the capital of Minsk.

The results of years of effort and diverse activities are visible in many spheres of society, be it reforms in social legislation, social work for disabled persons, or questions of sustainability and emerging technologies.

An impressive success story

In the years since its opening, IBB Minsk has rapidly developed into one of the most attractive international conference centres in the country. Already in the year of its founding, on the 3rd of October 1994, the German ambassador held a reception at IBB on the occasion of Reunification Day. This further developed into the now traditional ‘German Week’ in October.

Already one year after the opening, several representatives of companies and international organisations opened their offices at IBB Minsk. In 1997, for example, the OSCE opened their representation.

The building complex grows

The continually growing demand for office space at IBB Minsk lead to the building of four new square building modules in 2001.

In recognition of the year-long amicable cooperation with the German embassy, in October 2003 IBB began building the new legal and consular department. In August 2004, the new building complex, which was built as an extension of the original constructivist idea by Richard Pierschke in collaboration with the Belarussian architect Leonid Lewin, was handed over to the Federal Foreign Office.