MINSK, 15 July (BelTA) – The practice of setting up manufacturing corporations with versatile business interests will be continued in Belarus. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko made the statement as he heard out a report from Anatoly Savenok, Director General of Belarusian Steel Works (BMZ trademark), on 15 July. The press service of the Belarusian head of state told BelTA, the President now hears out performance reports from heads of major enterprises and associations on a regular...

MINSK, 13 July (BelTA) – In H1 2011 Belarusian Steel Works (BMZ trademark) increased export by 34% in comparison with the same period of last year to $784 million. The information was released by BMZ Director General Anatoly Savenok on 13 July, BelTA has learned. In January-June 2011 the company’s foreign trade surplus totaled $269 million. The company aims to increase the figure to $1.5 billion in 2011, said Anatoly Savenok. He specified that foreign trade surplus stood at $204 million...

MINSK, 8 July (BelTA) – As many as 682 investment contracts worth approximately $13.9 billion have been signed in Belarus, Kirill Koroteyev, Head of the Central Office for Investments of the Belarusian Economy Ministry, told media on 8 July. “So far Belarus has signed 682 investment contracts, eight ones have been repudiated,” said the official. “Taking into account the effective contracts the sum of investments Belarus can get is estimated at $13.9 billion”. Kirill Koroteyev said...

SHKLOV, 7 July (BelTA) – Belarus is not going to give up on imports completely, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told media on 7 July. In particular, the journalists noted, that both the President and the government stated many times that a drastic contraction in imports can help stabilize the economic situation in the country. Alexander Lukashenko was asked in this respect whether import restrictions might worsen Belarus’ foreign trade relations and lead to conflicts with its...

MINSK, 7 July (BelTA) – Belarus is set to resume lending housing construction as from the second half of 2011, Belarusian Vice Premier told workers of the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) on 6 July. At the same time he stressed that in the future the country is not going to construct social housing in the amount it has done earlier. “Under the current situation we cannot afford constructing that amount,” the Vice Premier said. “Now we are working on the housing construction program for...

MINSK, 6 July (BelTA) – Belarusians are gearing up for Kupalle, the folk midsummer holiday, which is celebrated in the night from 6 July to 7 July, BelTA learned from the head of the traditional art department of the Minsk Oblast folk arts center Vitaly Kasperovich. Kupalle is celebrated by both the young and old. The older generation shares experience with the young, thus preserving the ancient rites. People sing folk songs, young girls and boys dance and jump over flames of bonfires....

MINSK, 5 July (BelTA) – Brest and Gomel will join the UNICEF Child Friendly City global initiative, BelTA learned from the UN Social Information Department in Belarus. Official ceremonies of signing trilateral cooperation agreements will take place on 5 and 7 July. Chairmen of the Brest and Gomel city halls will confirm their commitment to take care of children, provide favorable living conditions in the cities and contribute to implementing children’s rights. On UNICEF’s behalf the...

MINSK, 5 July (BelTA) – Belarus’ parliamentary delegation is set to take part in the 20th annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) in Belgrade, Serbia, on 6-10 July, BelTA learnt from the press service of the House of Representatives. The session will be held under the theme “Strengthening the OSCE Effectiveness and Efficiency – A New Start after the Astana Summit. Parliamentarians are expected to consider...

GOMEL, 4 July (BelTA) – The 6th International Dance Festival Sozhsky Karagod will take place in Gomel on 15-18 September, BelTA learned from the Culture Department of Gomel City Hall. Partaking in the festival will be folk and modern dance companies, ballroom dancers, Belarusian fire dance theaters and foreign dance companies. The festival will also welcome classic dance companies, ballet theatres, professional choreographers, laureates of international festivals, etc. The festivals’...

MINSK, 1 July (BelTA) - Mozyr Oil Refinery plans to get Azerbaijani oil (Azeri Light grade) this month and to begin its processing by mid-July, BelTA learnt from the company. Mozyr Oil Refinery continues to receive process oil of the Urals variety, which is being displaced from the Odessa-Brody-Mozyr pipeline as Azeri oil is being pumped in. About 600,000 tonnes of process oil need to be pumped out form the pipeline to give way to Azeri Light. The pumping of the Azeri Light oil variety to...