No economic downturns will be allowed in Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko noted on September 25 when meeting with Russia’s State Duma MP Gennady Seleznev. During the meeting a wide range of issues on the Belarusian-Russian cooperation was discussed, BelTA learnt in the presidential press service. In particular, Alexander Lukashenko and Gennady Seleznev spoke about the economic development of Belarus under the new gas and oil prices. In this connection the President said: “The situation in...

There are plans to set up 124 new enterprises in Belarus by 2010, the press service of the Belarusian head of state quoted Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky as saying to President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on September 24. Alexander Lukashenko was briefed about the investment and innovation activities in the country. In particular, the talk touched upon the retooling of Belarusian companies. All in all, the national innovation development programme, which runs up to 2010, provides for...

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko believes that Russia and Belarus will acquire greater understanding under Russia’s new Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov. “He is a man of strong will and I believe that if our Governments and Prime Ministers agree on something, these agreements will be implemented,” the President said when delivering a speech at the harvesting festival Dazhinki 2007 in Rechitsa on September 22. Alexander Lukashenko added that Viktor Zubkov “is a clever,...

When negotiating with Gazprom Belarus will protect national interests, Alexander Lukashenko told reporters on September 22 in Rechitsa. “During these negotiations everything is possible, yet our stance is clear. It is well-motivated and will be tied up to the transit fees of the Russian gas via Belarus,” the head of state said. Alexander Lukashenko reminded that Gazprom received the same revenues from gas sold to Belarus as from gas sold to Germany. “Of course, Germany pays a higher...

Belarus may grow into a grain exporter, Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bambiza said today at an opening ceremony of the national harvest festival “Dazhynki-2007”. Four years of the successful performance of Belarus’ agricultural industry and this year’s harvesting results give grounds for such statements. As of September 1, 2007 Belarus harvested 7 million 435 thousand tonnes of grain, up by 900 thousand tonnes on 2006. At present Belarusian agricultural companies continue harvesting...

The board of the Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs of Belarus jointly with the republican committee of the Belarusian Trade Union of Agro-Industrial Workers and the oblast executive committees summed up the results of the 2007 republican grain harvesting and fodder conservation competition. As BelTA learnt from the Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs, Minsk oblast won the republican harvesting contest. Its gross grain yield totalled 1 million 979 thousand tonnes or 22% more as...

The possibility of raising utility prices this year is under consideration, Belarus' Deputy Housing Maintenance and Utilities Minister Sergei Sushko said at a press conference in Minsk on September 20. He said, at present Belarusian households pay 34% of the utility costs. The figure was supposed to be raised up to 41% in 2007, however, the government was unable to do it in view of skyrocketing prices for imported energy. Sergei Sushko did not specify the date and size of the possible...

During a visit to the Minsk water sports compound on September 20 Alexander Lukashenko has urged rich people of Belarus to invest in sports. Getting certain economic preferences rich people of Belarus could help developing sports in the country, particularly water sports which development is especially costly, the President said. The head of state examined the Minsk water sports compound, swimming and jumping pools, special training gyms. The compound is designed to train sportsmen for...

Belarus has determined the winners of the national harvesting competition among the regions, BelTA has learnt from the main plant-growing department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs. In Minsk oblast the best were the Minsk region with grain yield of 175.280 thousand tonnes (the highest result in Belarus) and the Kletsk region – 83 thousand tonnes. Grodno oblast winners included the Ostrovets and Grodno regions with the grain yield of 60.4 and 173 thousand tonnes respectively....

On September 18, Minsk, OAO Belgorkhimprom and Polar Stars Group S.A. company (Luxemburg) signed the investment projects for processing brown coal and slate coal in Belarus. As BelTA informed earlier, on September 18, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko met with Polar Stars Group CEO Nikolay von Keler. Nikolay von Keler presented two investment projects for extracting and processing brown coal and slate coal in Belarus to Alexander Lukashenko. The Belarusian government had already...