In January-August 2008, the Gross Domestic Product of Belarus made up Br78.5 trillion, or 10.6% up in comparable prices over the same period last year, BelTA was told in the Ministry of Statistics and Analysis. In accordance with the social and economic development forecast of Belarus, GDP is projected to increase by 8-9% in 2008. In January-July Belarus’ foreign trade in goods and services swelled by 57.2% in comparison with the same period of last year to $47.8 billion, the Ministry of...

Over the last few years Belarus has secured a substantial advance in reforming business regulations, representative of the World Bank Group in Belarusian Craig Bell told media on September 16. “Belarus has made quite major success in improving business environment. But there are still certain hindrances for businessmen. We hope these issues will be gradually resolved. The World Bank will continue providing the necessary support,” he said. Earlier Craig Bell noted, “This year...

Belarus is a reliable ally and friend of the People’s Republic of China, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said on September 15 as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus Wu Hongbin on the occasion of the end of his diplomatic mission. “China is China and you know about my favour of the policy the People’s Republic of China pursues,” said the head of state. Alexander Lukashenko underscored, he had been to China many times and his first...

Belarus will continue creating a favourable business climate in the country, Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky said as winners and laureates of the national Best Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 contest were awarded in Minsk on September 10. The Premier noted that according to Doing Business 2009, the sixth annual report published by the World Bank and IFC, the Republic of Belarus is one the world’s leaders in legal reforms meant to facilitate business operation. Belarus has also made...

During the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Belarusian athletes underachieved in the sports where they are provided with a good technical base, professional coaching and material resources, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said at the meeting with the winners and prize-holders of the Beijing Olympic Games on September 9. Alexander Lukashenko underlined that the forthcoming Olympic meeting will feature a detailed analysis of the results of the Olympic Games for every sport and every...

Belarus and the Vologda region of the Russian Federation intend to intensify the production cooperation including by means of joint projects in agricultural machinery, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko noted during his meeting with Governor of the Vologda region Viacheslav Pozgalev on September 9. According to the Head of State, the cooperation between Belarus and the Vologda region has been discussed in details during the negotiations of the Vologda delegation with a number of...

Belarus has always been a close ally of Russia and is fully committed to its obligations, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said at a press conference for the Russian regional mass media. “Unfortunately, there are too many myths about the life in our country. There are some people and some media outlets in Russia that have pathological dislike of Belarus and invent tall stories about our country. This time, for example, insinuations about South Ossetia and Abkhazia. They declared...

The pre-election environment in Belarus remains calm, reads an intermediate report of the OSCE ODIHR mission observing elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly in 2008. Observers report that the situation in the country remains calm while interviewed officials expect the election process to be transparent and peaceful, says the report. According to the observers all the parties show readiness for cooperation. Election commissions on all levels keep to the terms...

The draft budget 2009 will be socially oriented, Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir Amarin noted during his meeting with deputies of the House of Representatives of the Belarusian Parliament on September 4. ‘Thus, out Br67 trillion of the consolidated budget expenditures (special-purpose funds not included) over Br42 trillion (more than 60%) will be assigned for social needs,” the Deputy Minister noted. According to him, in accordance with the draft budget 2009 basic social...

Candidates for deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus will start their TV and radio appearances on September 3, Secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Nikolai Lozovik told BelTA. In most constituencies air time will be available between 18:00 and 18:30 for TV appearances and between 18:30 and 19:00 for radio appearances. In constituencies with many candidates (mainly Minsk and oblast centres) air time will be available between...