The process of rotating managerial personnel will be continued in Belarus, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said on January 17 when introducing Nikolai Domashkevich as new Chief of the Property Management Directorate of the President of the Republic of Belarus. “We have undertaken laborious tasks. That is why the rotation process will be continued,” Alexander Lukashenko underlined. According to him, “self-motivated and ambitious people should be appointed to the senior...

West-oriented moves by some CIS members do not hinder the integration in the Commonwealth, Sergei Lebedev, the chairman of the CIS Executive Committee – Executive Secretary, said during the ministerial consultations in Minsk January 16. According to him, the integration with the European organisations is a logical movement towards greater cooperation with international organisations. In this or that degree it is typical for all CIS member states. “This is a natural integration process...

In the future Belarus may purchase the Russian surface-to-air missile system S-400 Triumph, BelTA was told by chairman of the State Military-Industrial Committee of Belarus Nikolai Azamatov. According to him, Belarus’ Armed Forces show interest in the new system as it was added to the arsenal of the anti-aircraft troops of the Russian Federation. Besides, its technical specifications were considerably improved compared to S-300 systems. “The Russian side may start exporting S-400s in...

This year’s growth rate of the gross domestic product of Belarus should make 111% as against 2007. This main social and economic development target has been set by the government of the republic, BelTA learnt from representatives of the Economy Ministry. Main targets of the social and economic development forecast are determined by resolution No 8 of the Council of Ministers. In line with the document the industrial output is supposed to go up by 11%, production of consumer goods — 11%,...

On January 11, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko chaired a working meeting focusing on the domestic and foreign policies, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service. When opening the meeting, the head of state said: “The year has started, so we should discuss in detail the state of our economy and its development prospects.” The President said he was expecting concrete proposals from the participants of the meeting. The meeting focused on the priority areas of the...

OAO Mineral Wax Plant has started building a facility for producing 18,000 tonnes of paraffin per annum, the company’s director Valery Mulyarchik told BelTA. Council of Ministers resolution No 1852 approved the architectural project for Mineral Wax Plant to build the facility for manufacturing petroleum hard paraffin. As raw materials the company will use gatch made by OAO Naftan. According to Valery Mulyarchik, the company is supposed to build Belarus’ first production facility of this...

In 2007 companies of the Forestry Ministry of Belarus exported $132 million worth of products, up by 48% on 2006, BelTA learnt from Ivan Silkov, the chief of the sales and marketing department of the ministry. According to him, in 2008 the companies intend to preserve export upward tendencies. In 2007 pulpwood accounted for 66.5% of the export supplies; industrial wood – for 18.5%. Ivan Silkov explained that industrial wood was rather popular in the domestic market. Last year because of...

On January 10, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation, BelTA learnt from Pavel Legky, the head of the Belarusian leader’s press service. The two leaders discussed urgent issues of bilateral cooperation.

The Government passed Resolution No. 8 to approve the main targets of the socio-economic development forecast of the Republic of Belarus for 2008. The document sets out annual and quarterly targets for ministries, concerns, committees, oblasts and city of Minsk in 2008. Achieving the targets will help implement the national socio-economic development forecast for 2008 approved by President’s decree No. 656 of December 18, 2007. As BelTA has informed, in 2008 GDP is expected to grow by...

OAO Belarusbank will provide Br1.567 trillion in preferential loans to individuals for housing construction in 2008. OAO Belagroprombank is expected to provide Br.1041 trillion in preferential loans to corporations. These lending figures are stipulated by joint resolution No 1838/18 of the Council of Ministers and the National Bank. All in all, in 2008 Belarusian banks are expected to allocate Br2.781 trillion in loans for housing construction, including Br2.609 trillion in preferential...