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Belarus Adopts Import Substituting Program for 2006-2010
On March 24,
2006 the Government of Belarus has adopted the state import-substituting
program for 2006-2010.
The program
aims to ensure sustainable economic growth and satisfy the home demand for
competitive Belarusian goods. It has recommendations how to tap deeper into
the potential of the Belarusian production facilities, create new vacancies
and ensure economic security of the country.
To reach the
goals, it is expected to enhance technical level of the production
facilities. Successful Belarusian exporters with high-tech output will
receive investment support. Some 87 projects are to be implemented under the
new program in 2006 including 26 recently started.
Special
emphasis will be placed on projects of the real sector of economy:
mechanical engineering and metal working, chemical and petrochemical
industries, the agro-industrial sector, pharmaceutical and construction
branches.
We remind that
some 109 projects were implemented in the course of the state
import-substituting program by 2001-2005; products worth of $ 1.5 billon
were produced; goods worth of $ 640 million were exported. More than 2.6
thousand new jobs were created within this period.
Belarus'
Central Budget Surplus Makes Br 544.6 Billion in January-February
In
January-February 2006 the Belarus central budget surplus totalled Br 544.6
billion, as central budget revenues exceeded expenditure.
On the whole,
in January-February 2006 the central budget revenues neared Br 4 trillion,
15.3 percent of the corrected annual target and 68.2 percent of the quarter
target. Specialists of the Finance Ministry of Belarus believe, the rise in
the major revenue sources is connected with the outrunning growth of
macroeconomic parameters, vigorous increase in real economy output, rising
financial parameters of Belarusian commercial entities and increasing
export.
In
January-February profit tax payments to the state budget made about Br 260
billion, 16 percent of the corrected annual target. VAT payments totalled
around Br 730 billion, 15.5 percent of the annual target, overseas trade tax
payments – some Br 270 billion, 13.7 percent of the annual target. (P.S. $1
= Br 2150).
Share of Services in GDP of Belarus Should Account for More
Than 50 percent by 2010
Share of services in GDP of Belarus should account for more than 50 percent
by 2010 as against 42 percent in 2005. The task is set out in the
comprehensive program to develop the services sphere in the Republic of
Belarus for 2006-2010. The draft was considered on March 29 at the meeting
of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers chaired by Prime Minister
Sergei Sidorskiy.
As the head of government noted, by achieving this parameter, Belarus will
reach the level of the Eastern European countries. This is the high bar we
should try to reach.
As the Prime Minister stressed, there is a need to create equal conditions
for the development of services in the country. According to him, “a special
section in the document should envisage the upgrading of the legislative
base in terms of all kinds of services”. Along with the traditional services
the country should develop new forms – communication, internet, mobile
communication, mail and also the services forming the market economy
infrastructure – banking, legal, information, insurance. The program should
be specified in terms of those paid services which need developing, Sergei
Sidorskiy said.
In his report economy minister Nikolai Zaichenko noted that export of
services should ramp up at least 1.6 times. With that will come the GDP
growth.
The volume of banking services to legal entities should double, insurance
services should increase 3.6-3.7 times, real estate services – 1.6-1.7
times. The volume of traditional services – transport, utilities and
consumer services – will grow by 5-8 per cent annually what is somewhat
lower than in the sphere on the whole. New services are expected to surge
13-16 percent.
The Presidium of the Council of Ministers adopted the comprehensive program
of the services sphere development as the basis. During the two weeks the
document will be finalized, specified to the maximum and will be integrated
with the parameters set out in other relevant programs.
Rating of Belarus on High-Tech Market Continues Climbing
The American Industrial Corporation Eaton awarded Belarusian Metallurgical
Plant (BMZ) with special prize “Perfect Supplier” for the results in 2005.
Eaton is one of the biggest corporations in the USA and worldwide and has
cooperation contracts with 38 companies in 125 countries. Only 11 of them
have been bestowed the prize “Perfect Supplier”. Only two partners are from
Europe including the Belarusian producer.
The document signed by Eaton Corporation CEO reads that the prize is awarded
“for high quality, production innovations and technical achievements”.
In 2006 Belarusian Metallurgical Works plans to make products worth of more
than $ 1 billion. This is the highest output index among industrial
companies of Belarus. Compare: in 2002 the works made products worth of
$ 360 million, in 2005 – $ 900 million.
Belarusian Petrochemical Output Has Bright Outlook in US
Leading Belarusian petrochemical companies participated on 28-30 of March in
the international exhibition “Technical Textile. North America” that was
held in Atlanta, GA, USA.
Belarus was presented at the event by JSC "Grodno-Khimvolokno", JSC
"Mogilevkhimvolokno", Republican Unitary Enterprise "Khimvolokno"
(Svetlogorsk City) and JSC "Polotsk-Steklovolokno".
Petrochemical output produced by the Belarusians companies met great
interest among the participants of the show. More than 30 negotiations were
held during the exhibition. Foreign companies from the US, European Union
and other regions of the world showed their readiness to strengthen
cooperation with the Belarusian producers.
The participation of the Belarusian exporters in the biggest regional
specialized exhibition which featured over 300 companies from all over the
world and the results of negotiations held during the show proved again that
top-notch goods produced in Belarus were of a great demand and competitive
at the international market.
Belarusian Machine-Building Ready for Tough Competition
with Chinese Producers
The Belarusian machine-building branch is ready to compete under the
toughest conditions with the world’s leading truck producers, including the
Chinese ones. Minister of Industry of Belarus Anatoliy Rusetskiy told a
briefing on March 28 during an international exhibition AvtotekhExpo 2006
that recently took place in Minsk, Belarus.
He noted that the Belarusian manufacturers “offer qualitative products at
affordable prices and ensure timely deliveries. These are the necessary
conditions to make a company competitive.” The Minister admitted that the
Chinese vehicles have been gradually winning over the global market due to
their low prime cost. He emphasized that all Belarusian branch companies
have been working on the prime cost reduction lately by introducing new
technologies, reducing labor intensiveness, increasing labor productivity
and energy saving, etc.
The production has been growing. For the recent three years Minsk Tractor
Works has doubled the production – up to 42.5 thousand tractors. In 2006 the
output will reach 50 thousand units. Belarusian Automobile Plant has been
building up production volumes as well. This year the production of dump
trucks will ramp up to 1.7 thousand units. The output of buses will double –
to more than 2 thousand units.
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