The sowing of spring grain crops and leguminous plants must be completed by April 10, the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said in the form of an instruction to the government and local bodies of authority. On April 5, the president of Belarus has met with premier Sergei Sidorskiy, BelTA learnt in the presidential press-service. The president has been informed about the course of spring sowing campaign in the country. To date, the spring sowing plan has been completed by 77%....

According to provisional estimates, in January-March 2007, Belarus’ GDP will swell by 8.3-8.5% up on the respective period of last year and will meet forecast parameters, the press service of the Belarusian president quoted prime minister Sergei Sidorskiy as reporting to Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko on April 5. In Q1 2007 the industrial output increased by 9% in comparison with January-March 2006. The performance of Belarusian food industry concern Belgospischeprom was somewhat...

Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko demanded that efforts aimed at decreasing energy consumption and the dependence of the national economy on imported energy should be continued. “It is the most important requirement today”, the head of state stressed while visiting greenhouse food production company Berestie. Alexander Lukashenko praised the company’s practices of growing vegetables using energy-saving technologies. He noted, the economic indicators the company shows are the best...

The Belarusian economy is resilient to the impact of outside factors, including to the increase in energy prices, Belarusian premier Sergei Sidorskiy said today opening the fourth plenary session of the foreign investment consultative council of the Council of Ministers of Belarus. According to him, foreign investors have been expressing ever stronger interest in Belarus lately. The interest has been fuelled by economic and social stability in Belarus and by the presence of highly-qualified...

In the near future Belarusian companies will be able to take out bank loans at interest rates, which will be much lower than those available now, Belarus first vice premier Vladimir Semashko told media today when asked by BelTA. He noted, to make the offer come true, the Belarusian government has set up a panel led by representatives of the National Bank management and top executives of the finance ministry. They have already held negotiations with several banks. “We have already reached...

This year the National Bank of Belarus will secure the stability of the exchange rate of the national currency, the press service of the Belarusian head of state quoted NBB chairman of the board Piotr Prokopovich as saying during his report to Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko today. Piotr Prokopovich informed the president, in January-February 2007 the stability of the national currency was secured. In the period the Belarusian ruble weakened against the US dollar by only 0.1%, which...

The president of Belarus has approved the 2007-2010 national demographic security programme. The press service of the head of state told BelTA, Alexander Lukashenko signed corresponding decree No. 135 on March 26. The main goal of the programme is to improve the demographic situation in the country. The programme lists a complex of specific social, economic, administrative, legal and organisational measures meant to support families with children, improve health and living standards of the...

The president of Belarus has approved the 2007-2010 national demographic security programme. The press service of the head of state told BelTA, Alexander Lukashenko signed corresponding decree No. 135 on March 26. The main goal of the programme is to improve the demographic situation in the country. The programme lists a complex of specific social, economic, administrative, legal and organisational measures meant to support families with children, improve health and living standards of the...

Belarus and Russia have agreed to grant free access of goods to the markets of the two countries. This is the main outcome of the session of the Union State Council of Ministers held on March 23 in Minsk. The sides signed an intergovernmental agreement on the measures to develop trade-economic cooperation between Belarus and Russia. The two countries also concluded an agreement on the terms of Belarusian sugar delivery to Russia for 2007-2008. Belarus and Russia also signed a protocol on...

In January-February 2007 Belarus reported robust economic performance in production and investment spheres having met 13 out of 19 socio-economic targets for the year, the press-service of the economy ministry told BelTA. GDP grew by 9% from January-February 2006 while the target figures ranged between 8% and 9% and were 6.5% for H1. The GDP energy-intensity was reduced by 24.7% in January (the target was 6-7%). The production increase in January-February 2007 was 6.9% from the same period...