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National Bank Instructs Banks to
Attract Foreign Investments
The National Bank of Belarus (NBB) instructs CEOs of
Belarusian commercial banks to attract foreign investments in banks’ charter
capital and in investment projects in the country.
The NBB also recommends CEOs to look for promising investment
projects that can be financed from foreign credit lines.
According to the NBB, today the share of foreign investments
in the charter capital of Belarusian banks is at 11.63 percent, up by 160
percent as of early 2001. In 2005 there was no flow of direct foreign
investments into charter capital of the Belarusian banks.
Belarusian banks expect the share of foreign capital in their
charter capital to reach 12 percent by 2006, up 150 percent on the year.
Today Belarus has a quotas on the presence of foreign capital in the banking
system set at 25%.
National Bank Says Bad Loans Share in
Bank's Portfolio Should Not Exceed 3 Percent in 2005
The share of prolonged, overdue and doubtful loans in the
loan portfolio of Belarusian banks should not exceed 3 percent in 2005. This
limit is set by the NBB' resolution.
In January-August 2005 the share of bad loans in the loan
portfolio of Belarusian banks exceeded the indicative parameter of the
troubled assets in the credit risk assets. The NBB says that banks should
intensify the work with loanees.
Belarusian banks’ loan portfolio increased by 17.9 percent in
January-August 2005. The share of bad debts in overall debts on loans was up
by 2.7 percent as of September 1 against 2.8 percent as of January 1, 2005,
and 3.2 percent as of August 1.
National Bank to Sell Diamonds
Weighting 250.04 Carats
The Board of Directors of the National Bank of Belarus (NBB)
has instructed the central department of international operations to select,
certify and sell 1,055 diamonds weighing a total of 250.04 carats.
Each diamond, packed in a special container, is to have a
quality certificate with detailed description. Expectedly, the stones may be
sold by the end of the year. Currently the NBB sells and repurchases gold,
platinum and silver bullions.
National Bank Launches Memorable Coins
Dedicated to City of Grodno
The National Bank of Belarus (NBB) has put into circulation
new silver and copper-nickel memorable coins dedicated to the city of
Grodno.
The bank minted 2,000 “proof” quality silver coins. A coin is
39 millimeters in diameter. The nominal value has been set at 20 Belarusian
rubles (Br). The bank also minted 2,000 “proof-like” quality copper-nickel
coins. A coin is 33 millimeters in diameter with the nominal value of 1
Belarusian ruble.
The tail of the coins features the panorama of Grodno from a
XVI copper-plate engraving.
Belarus' Gas Pipeline Transportation
Up By 12.5 Percent
Natural gas transportation through Belarus’ pipeline system
rose by 12.5 percent in January-August 2005 to 41.5 billion cubic meters.
Natural gas imports in Belarus declined by 0.3 percent in the
period to 12.9 billion cubic meters. Gas transit via Belarus has increased
by 19.2 percent to 28.6 billion cubic meters.
Russian gas transit via Belarus’ pipelines to Poland
accounted for 70 percent of the total, gas transit to Ukraine and Lithuania
made up 20 percent and 8 percent respectively, while gas transit to
Kaliningrad Region, Russia stood at 2 percent.
The profitability of Belarusian pipeline companies reached by
64 percent in January-July 2005.
Belarus' Ferrous Rolled Stock Output
Up By 11.2 Percent
Belarus’ ferrous rolled stock output rose by 11.2 percent to
1.364 million tons in January-August 2005.
Steel output increased by 7.5 percent to 1.427 million tons
in the period. Standard quality wire output rose by 24.3 percent to 92,600
tons in the period, and steel wire output increased by 9.8 percent to 44,200
tons.
Belarusian companies produced 54,800 tons of metal cord in
the period, up by 2.7 percent on the year. The production of fasteners,
including nuts, bolts, screws and rivets, rose by 14.8 percent to 11.100
tons. In monetary terms, ferrous metal output in Belarus in January-August
2005 increased by 9.1 percent.
Belarus' Medicines Output Up By 20.2
Percent
Medicines output by Belarusian companies of microbiological
industry rose by 20.2 percent in January-August 2005.
The output growth was observed in production of pain-killers,
anti-febrile and anti-inflammatory medicines, medicines for treatment of
cardiovascular diseases, anti-tuberculosis medicines, medicines for
endocrine system, digestive apparatus and other diseases of internals,
vitamins, as well as blood substitutes and other plasma substitutes.
Belarusian Shipping Company to Test
Shipment in 2005
Belarusian Shipping Company intends to test potash shipment
late October early November 2005.
The company plans to transport potash fertilizers via ports
of Kaliningrad region, Russia. Belarusian Potassium Company and Belarusian
Shipping Company are preparing for potash fertilizers transportation.
Besides, today Belarusian Shipping Company together with the
state-owned heating and fuel holding Beltopgaz are working out a project to
supply peat to the Scandinavian countries.
Belarusian Shipping Company was established in 2005. The
Ministry of Transport of Belarus sees that the company will become the main
sea freight operator in Belarus.
Belarus Sets Fish, Seafood Import
Quotas For 2006
Belarus’ Presidential Property Management Department has
issued the regulation, which sets the quotas on imports of fish and seafood
in 2006 and raised quotas on some seafood products. The quotas are to be
distributed during a tender; applications are admitted until October 20,
2005 at the Presidential Property Management Department.
The quota on imported live, frozen and cooled fish was set at
170,000 tons in 2006, flat on the year; dried, smoked, pickled fish,
fish-flour and beads at 1,300 tons, flat on the year; for shellfish at 1,800
tons, the same as in 2005.
The quota on sea and other weeds was set at 1,500 tons in
2006, up from 1,200 tons in 2005; for preserved fish, sturgeon roe and its
substitutes at 1,600 tons, up from 1,450 tons; herring at 1,000 tons, up
from 900 tones; sardines, sardinella and sprats at 4,800 tons, up from 4,450
tons. The quota on scomber is set at 1,000 tons in 2006, up from 900 tons in
2005; for ready-to-eat seafood from surimi at 12,000 tons, up from 10,000
tons; for salmon at 300 tons, up from 220 tons.
Belarus Extends List of Requirements
to Seafood Producers
The Government of Belarus extended the list of requirements
to seafood producers to receive processing and canning licenses.
The document introduces changes in the provision regulating
the licensing of this activity.
Applicants for licenses should keep to the list of products
approved by Belarus’ Presidential Property Management Department, which
regulates imports of fish and seafood in Belarus. The license is issued for
five years. In case a licensee fails to meet the requirements, the license
is revoked. Earlier, applicants were supposed to possess necessary equipment
and premises to get licenses.
In 2005, 92 companies received licenses to make fish produce.
Belarusian companies increased fish produce output, including canned fish by
32.1 percent in January-July 2005 to 27,300 tones.
Currency Revenues of Belarusian
Companies Up By 29.8 Percent
Foreign currency revenues of Belarusian companies rose by
29.8 percent in January-August 2005 to $10.335 billion.
Of the total amount, commodities export revenues rose by 30.7
percent in the period to $9.082 billion, services export revenues rose by
19.9 percent to $1.117 billion, while domestic trade currency revenues rose
by 65.5 percent to $134 million.
Currency revenues of Belarusian companies from CIS countries
rose by 18.4 percent in January-August 2005 to $4.886 billion, including
revenues from Russia at $4.204 billion, up by 13.7 percent, while from
non-CIS countries went up by 41.9 percent to $5.449 billion.
Belarus' MTS Has Improved Coverage and
Launched New Base Stations
The Russian-Belarusian joint venture Mobile TeleSystems (MTS)
in Belarus, which operates GSM 900/1800 standard under MTS and Jeans
trademarks, improved coverage and covered some new towns in the Brest
Region.
MTS launched base stations in Brest, in the town of
Parakhonsk, in the Pinsk District, Sinkevichi and Mikashevichi, in the
Luninetski District. These cities are situated along the Brest-Gomel road.
Besides, the company launched micro base stations in some
other towns of the Brest region: Rechitsa, Berzhnoe and Fedory, in the
Stolin District, and Stradichi, in the Brest District. As of September 1
MTS’ services are available on 53% of Belarus’ territory.
In January-July 2005 Belarus’ imports of fish and seafood
rose by 52 percent to $119 million in monetary terms. Belarus’ imports were
at 88,800 tons, up by 16 percent on the year.
Belarus Sugar Output Up By 11.8
Percent
Belarusian sugar refineries’ output rose by 11.8 percent in
January-August 2005 to 516,200 tons.
In the period refineries produced 453,800 tons of raw sugar,
up by 2.3 percent on the year, and 62,000 tons of beet sugar, up from 10,700
tons in January-August 2004.
The daily sugar processing capacity of Belarus’ refineries is
to rise by 6.7 percent in 2005 to 23,800 tons.
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