EN
The article provides an attempt to answer the question to what extent, under conditions of the Belorussian economy, Polish experience can be used within the scope of development and trends in activities of the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises. This question is essential inasmuch as this sector is especially significant for the economic development processes so that an appropriate policy towards the sector in question can contribute to acceleration in economic growth and, at the same time, it can help to meet social and economic challenges, e.g. of providing new jobs for people and promoting resourcefulness in society. The authors present the level of development of small and medium-sized enterprises in Belarus. Basing themselves on the Polish example they highlight both the advantages and possible threats that may result from that potential. The main threat can be low stability of this sector in Poland reflected by high percentage of enterprises which had withdrawn from business.