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BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Vladimir Semashko on
Economic Development of Belarus
The indices of industrial
production growth in Belarus for 2006-2010 are planned to be not less
than 108% in comparison with 2005. According to the First Deputy Prime
Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko, the Government is now developing
such plans for the next five years. He also noted that last year
Belarusian industry “showed unprecedented performances” by 115.6% to
previous year.
It is expected that in
2005 the industrial production growth will be achieved and will make up
by 110-111%. According to Vladimir Semashko, the rates of average annual
economic growth of 108% in China was called “Chinese miracle”. Such
estimations are expressed by international experts in respect of other
countries that managed to obtain a 10% economic growth. By the way,
Belarus increased the industrial production volumes by 15.6%, and we
have what to compare, said Vladimir Semahko.
On Foreign Trade
Indices of Belarus
Belarus reached a $698.6
million surplus in foreign trade in commodities in January-May 2005, in
comparison with a deficit of $212.5 million in January-May 2004, the
Ministry of Statistics and Analysis of Belarus reported.
Foreign trade turnover
grew by 11.1% on January-May 2004 and made $12,904.4 million. The value
of exports grew by 19.3% ($6,801.5 million), and imports, by 3.2%
($6,102.9 million).
The balance of foreign
trade in commodities reached $318.5 million against the negative balance
of $510.3 million in January-May 2004.
The volume of foreign
trade in commodities made $11,684.9 million, 10.6% up on January-May
2004. Commodity export grew 19.4% to make $6,001.7 million, import –
2.7% up to $5,683.2 million.
In January-May foreign
trade in services grew 28.2% to make $380.1 million. The turnover of
foreign trade in service grew 15.9% in January-May to $1,219.5 million.
The value of exports made $799.8 million (18.6% up), imports, $419.7
million (11.1% up).
Belarus Is to Build
Its Port in Kaliningrad
Belarus will build its
port in Kaliningrad and will channel its freight flow to this Russian
port. Such an agreement was met at the recent meeting between Alexander
Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin, the Belarusian president stated at the
meeting on the issues of domestic and foreign policy.
According to him the
Russian party supported the intention of Belarus to participate in
modernization of the port facilities of Kaliningrad.
According to the
Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus annually transports about 17 million tons
of cargo through the ports of Russia, Ukraine and the Baltic States.
Almost one third of the Lithuanian budget is formed owing to the transit
of the Belarusian freights.
Belarus’ Statistics
Ministry Reports Reduce in Unemployment Rate by 10.4%
The number of officially
registered unemployed persons in Belarus decreased by 10.4% in
January-June to 74,400, the Ministry of Statistics reported.
Belarusian unemployment
rate was registered at 1.7% of the economically active population as of
July 1, against 1.9% as of January 1.
According to the Ministry
of Statistics, in June a total of 1.4 billion Belarusian rubles (Br) of
unemployment benefits were paid to 36,300 jobless people.
Currently Belarus’ labor
force is estimated at 4.3 million people, or 43.9% of Belarus’ total
population. (Br 2,149 - U.S. $1)
Belarus Grows
Net Foreign Assets
The value of Belarus’ net
foreign assets totaled $1.3 billion as of July 1 2005, marking a 50.7%
increase against early 2005, the National Bank of Belarus (NBB)
reported.
The increase in net
foreign assets was prompted by a 40.8% increase in gross foreign assets
to $1.334 billion along with a 60% decrease in gross foreign liabilities
to $34 million.
The volume of net foreign
assets accumulated in freely convertible currencies totaled $1.274
billion as of June 1 2005, 48.5% up over January-June.
The share of soft
currencies was equal to equivalent of $26.1 million as of July 1 2005,
growing 4.4-fold since early 2005. |
