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PRESS RELEASE
Washington,
D.C., April 12, 2007
Socio-Economic Development of Belarus in 2006
Socio-economic development of Belarus in 2006 demonstrated positive dynamics
on virtually all most important parameters, thus proving the effectiveness
of the socio-economic model chosen by the leadership of Belarus.
In
comparison with 2005:
– gross domestic product grew 9.9 percent, which is, according to the
United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects 2007 report,
places Belarus among the most dynamically developing states of the world. In
particular, in terms of GDP growth Belarus ranks 7th in
the world (after Azerbaijan, Armenia, Latvia, Estonia, China and
Kazakhstan);
– industrial production rose 11.3 percent. According to the
Interstate Statistical Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS), Belarus
in terms of industrial production growth passed most of CIS states except
Azerbaijan (36.6 percent).
– agricultural production rose 6.1 percent, which is much higher than
the average level in CIS states (3 percent);
– consumer goods production increased by 10.5 percent;
– growth
of housing construction
made up 9.3 percent. Plan of housing construction for 2006 was surpassed by
more than a third in rural settlements;
– capital investments
grew 31.4
percent.
According
to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World
Investment Report 2006, as of the end of 2005 Belarus
was 10th among 19 countries of the South-Eastern Europe and CIS
in terms of the level of direct foreign investments, and 4th
among CIS countries (after Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan).
In the
report, Belarus is placed in the category of countries with high potential
for attracting direct foreign investments, leading over most of the
countries of South-Eastern Europe and CIS;
– foreign trade grew 28.7 percent, including the growth of exports by
23.5 percent;
– foreign
trade of services grew 15.5 percent. Positive balance in the trade of
services exceeded $1 billion;
– labor productivity increased by 11.6 percent;
– unemployment level made up 1.2 percent of the economically active
population (1.5 percent in 2005). According to the United Nations World
Economic Situation and Prospects 2007 report, Belarus has one of the
best records in the world on population employment.
– real
income of the population
grew 17.3 percent;
– real amount of assigned monthly pensions
(calculated with the account of growth of consumer prices on goods and
services) increased 13.4 percent;
– inflation level
made up less than 7 percent (8 percent in 2005).
According
to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Transition
Report 2006, Belarus:
– has one of the leading positions among CIS states in terms of inflation
level, yielding only to Armenia and Kyrgyzstan;
– ranks 3rd among CIS states in terms of GDP per capita
($7,903) after Russia ($10,825) and Kazakhstan (8,536);
– ranks second after Estonia among all the countries with EBRD cooperates
(countries of Central and Eastern Europe, CIS, and Mongolia) in terms of
budget deficit.
According
to the International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics 2007 (UNIDO),
the indicator of industrial added value (IAV) favorably places
Belarus among European countries. In terms of IAV index, Belarus in
2005 ranked 2nd in CIS, yielding only to Georgia. In terms of
industrial added value in GDP, Belarus in 2004 was a leader in CIS area,
and yielded only to Ireland among Western countries.
According
to the World Economic Forum report, published in 2006, Belarus:
– has the
lowest in CIS (after Ukraine) child mortality rate;
– has the
lowest among CIS countries concentration of ecologically dangerous ozone;
– has the
best among CIS countries indicator of provision of the population with
quality drinking water and of balance of water consumption in ecosystems.
United
Nations
Statistical Yearbook 2006 demonstrates convincing results of the
social policy of the Government of Belarus in the area of protection of
women’s rights and interests. In terms of maternal mortality (36
cases per 100,000 live births), Belarus surpasses not only most of CIS
countries, but also such European Union member states as Latvia (61 case),
Romania (58 cases), Estonia (38 cases).
Belarus has
leading positions in the world rating of gender equality. According
to the Interparliamentary Union report, published in 2006, Belarus
ranks 21st in the world in terms of share of women in
legislative bodies, surpassing such countries as Switzerland (28th),
Australia (29th), Canada (44th), Poland (46th),
United Kingdom (50th). United States, Russia, France, Italy,
Japan are not even among 50 leading states of the world.
According
to the Human Development Report 2006 of the United Nations
Development Program, Belarus kept its 67th position among 177
countries of the world in the Human Development Index.
According
to the joint research by the ERBD and the World Bank “Characteristics of
Business and Entrepreneurial Environment” covering 27 countries with
transition economies in Central and Eastern Europe, the best results on
combating corruption are achieved in Belarus. Belarus is followed by
Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia and Slovakia.
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