MOODY's Investors Service (MOODY's) on March 16, 2018 upgraded the Government of Belarus' issuer and senior unsecured ratings to B3 from Caa1. The outlook remains stable.

Belarusian market started 2018 year with January GWP in the amount of BYN 101.5 million (EUR 41.4 million), which is by 18.4% more, in nominal terms, than in January of 2017, as informed by the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Belarus.

In 2017 GWP of Belarusian insurance companies amounted to BYN 1.05 billion (EUR 446 million), 6.4% more y-o-y. GWP ceded in reinsurance reached BYN 1.03 billion (EUR 437million) against BYN 0.98 billion in 2016, thus 6% increase in 2017.

In 3Q2017, the Belarusian insurance market recorded a GWP growth of 5.25%, to BYN 780.94 million, mostly driven by the life insurance segment. Claims paid by insurers went down by 0.19% to BYN 393.22 million.

In 1H2017, the Belarusian insurance market recorded a market growth by 7.10%, to BYN 524.87 million, mostly driven by the life insurance segment.

Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlooks on three state-owned Belarus insurers to Positive from Stable while affirming the Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) Ratings at 'B-'. The affected insurers are Belarusian Republican Unitary Insurance Company (Belgosstrakh), Belarusian National Reinsurance Organisation (Belarus Re), Export-Import Insurance Company of the Republic of Belarus (Eximgarant).

In 1Q2017, the Belarusian market reported GWP of BYR 253.95 million, up by 8.07%. The main growth drivers were health, pension and life insurance with investment component, as well as property insurance.

According to data published by the Ministry of Finance of Belarus, the local insurance market reported aggregated GWP of BYN 971 million, 18% more y-o-y, supported by the life & health insurance (inclusing pensions).

Belarusian insurance market totaled BYN 742 million (EUR 343 million) for the first nine months of 2016, 24.2% more y-o-y, according to the MoF market figures. In terms of paid claims, the market authority reported a 14.2% y-o-y increase, the 19 active market players paying almost BYN 394 million (EUR 182 million).

According to data provided by the Ministry of Finance of Republic of Belarus, the local insurance market saw a 22.7% positive evolution in GWP terms at the end of the first half of 2016.

Specialists from ICMIF - International Cooperative Mutual Insurance Federation and PensionsEurope, representatives of national insurance associations from Austria and Turkey, as well as professionals representing SWISS Re, GEN Re and AUDATEX are just a few of the speakers who have already confirmed their presence at FIAR 2018 - The International Insurance-Reinsurance Forum.

Insurance professionals from all over Europe gathered on Tuesday, 17 April, in Zagreb, Croatia, at the "Challenges and Practice of Insurance Supervision in South East Europe" conference. The event represents a unique forum for an open dialogue between insurance companies and insurance supervisory authorities of the SEE region.

In 2017, life insurance was the market driver for the Russian insurance market, mainly due to investment life insurance

The XXII International Reinsurance Conference has started today in Moscow, organized by Delovoy Format, with the support of the Russian Insurers Association. XPRIMM, the traditional Media Partner of the conference, has launched on the occasion the latest edition of its Insurance Profile Russia, providing for 2017 insurance statistical data.

The "IIF 2018 - PROPERTY INSURANCE - the NatCat challenge and beyond", taking place on Friday, 23 March, in Prague, bought into debate the NatCat insurance gap, but also the newly developed aspects of the manmade property risks.

The European Consumer Protection Conference, taking place on Thursday, 22 March, in Prague, brought into debate the consumer environment in the current European regulatory and economic landscape, the upcoming legislative changes that will benefit consumers and users of insurance and private pension products, as well as digitalization and the impact of technological advances in the field of financial services.

Insurance professionals from all over Europe gather today, 16 March, in Vienna, to participate at the "IIF 2018 - MOTOR INSURANCE - the innovation challenge" conference.

Industry professionals from CEE gathered on 22 February, in Macedonia, at the "IIF 2018 - CEE & SEE - Regional Actuarial Insurance Conference", to analyze the current reality of the actuarial job.