http://www.charter97.org/ Íîâîñòè èç Áåëàðóñè, Íàâ³íû ç Áåëàðóñ³, News from Belarus http://www.charter97.org/images/logo.gif http://www.charter97.org/ Íîâîñòè èç Áåëàðóñè, Íàâ³íû ç Áåëàðóñ³, News from Belarus be http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/7/7/7960/ Economics Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:11:41 +0300 Balance of merchandise trade, remaining one of the most difficult problems of the Belarusian economy, has decreased by 400 million dollars more over the last month, and has reached minus 1.748 billion dollars for 5 months against minus 1.323 billion dollars in January-April 2008 and minus 1.488 billion dollars in January-May 2007. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/7/2/7866/ Economics Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:18:01 +0300 Russian gas prices have risen significantly, taking into account recent statement of new Gazprom CEO Viktor Zubkov, it is quiet possible that they will also increase for Belarus in the third quarter of the year. It seems that the Belarusian government thinks the discussion on prices for the second quarter will distract attention from the prices for the third quarter. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/27/7735/ Economics Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:40:14 +0300 Belarus doesn’t fulfil its obligations upon payment for Russian gas. “Vedomosti” newspaper reports it with a reference to a source in the government and Gazprom. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/26/7721/ Economics Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:16:53 +0300 Gas prices higher than USD 140 per 1,000 cu m will influence national measures of the country, minister of economy of Belarus Mikalai Zaichanka said at a press conference in Minsk. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/24/7640/ Economics Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:18:51 +0300 The cost of oil imported from Russia has risen for Belarus by almost $100 per ton in June as compared to the previous month. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/20/7576/ Economics Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:23:09 +0300 Belarus’ joint external debt as of April 1, 2008 was $13 bn 630 mln, and it has grown by 8% over the first quarter of this year (by $1.007 bn). http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/20/7563/ Economics Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:15:57 +0300 Soon there will be no representatives of the working class left in Belarus, who are so necessary to realization of ambitious plans of the government to increase the GDP. The reason is banal: it’s the outflow of workers to the neighbouring countries where wages are higher. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/20/7553/ Economics Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:13:34 +0300 How Russian ruble’s strength would affect the economy of Belarus, and how the country could avoid economic takeover? According to the dean of the economy faculty of the Belarusian State University Mikhail Kavalyou, there is one way out, to stimulate influx of Western, Arabic, Chinese capitals to the country at any cost. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/19/7525/ Economics Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:30:18 +0300 Andrei Kabyakou, Prime Minister of Belarus, has stated that prices for Russian gas are to grow, as they are related to the cost of oil which constantly grows. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/19/7520/ Economics Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:52:44 +0300 Gazprom declared new gas prices for Europe: the average price can exceed USD 400 per 1,000 cu m by the end of 2008. Experts don’t exclude Gazprom will offer the same prices to Belarus and Ukraine. Experts think Russia will demand Belarus to allow Russian investors to the economy of our country in return for favourable conditions of supplies. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev will probably discuss this in Brest. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/18/7514/ Economics Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:42:26 +0300 One of the richest Belarusian enterprises, oil company Univest-M, continues to acquire more assets in Belarus. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/11/7345/ Economics Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:45:52 +0300 According to the survey of the European Commission, an average wages in the European Union amounts to 20.25 euro per hour. Belarusian average wage is 1.38 euro. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/10/7309/ Economics Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:32:39 +0300 After transition to average European cost, gas costs for Belarus will be 30% lower than for neighbouring countries, Belarusian vice Prime Minister Andrei Kabyakou has stated today. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/9/7276/ Economics Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:21:48 +0300 Aleksandr Surikov, Russia’s ambassador to Belarus, has said today gas prices for Belarus can exceed 200 dollars in 2009. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/2/7079/ Economics Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:28:16 +0300 In January-April 2008 balance of foreign trade in Belarus reached $1.5 bln. According to the head of the National Bank, it is just a beginning. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/6/2/7069/ Economics Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:57:29 +0300 Belarus has negative foreign merchandise trade balance for January-April 2008 of USD 1,323,200,000. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/28/6938/ Economics Wed, 28 May 2008 15:28:46 +0300 The 97th Session of the International Labour Conference,opens in Geneva. At the session the ILO Norms and Standards Committee Committee the problem of Belarus is to be considered. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/28/6920/ Economics Wed, 28 May 2008 10:18:06 +0300 The convening of the session of the Council of Ministers, where results of work for four months of 2008 were discussed, wasn’t so necessary at first sight. What did make the government analyse the statistics as a mater of urgency? http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/27/6874/ Economics Tue, 27 May 2008 09:11:04 +0300 According to the Ministry of Statistics, the average salary in Belarus in April amounts to 836,980 rubles. This figure is far fewer than the one, announced by the prime minister ten days ago. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/23/6791/ Economics Fri, 23 May 2008 11:23:42 +0300 Belarus continues to develop of Iranian vector of the foreign policy. Alyaksandr Lukashenka says Minsk has no obstacles for close cooperation with Iran. However, the government confesses the planned Belarusian-Iranian economic projects show slow progress, “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” notes. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/23/6777/ Economics Fri, 23 May 2008 08:44:14 +0300 Interesting information about the range of import and export of Belarus with its main trade partners has been published on the website of the Ministry of Statistics. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/22/6753/ Economics Thu, 22 May 2008 12:21:22 +0300 The first foreign visit of Dmitry Medvedev in a capacity of Russian president will be done to Kazakhstan. During the visit signing of a number of agreements touching upon Belarusian interests as well is possible. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/22/6746/ Economics Thu, 22 May 2008 10:05:19 +0300 Recently Alyaksandr Lukashenka has stated that soon the Belarusian market could become less open for European investors, as Belarus is “on the threshold of Eastern capital’s invasion”. “Lukashenka understands that Arab capital won’t modernize the economy in a way to become competitive in the markets he wants to enter. So his statements are a standard behaviour of a person who would like to sell at a higher price, and for the European Union’s demand to be lifted,” an economist Yaraslau Ramanchuk said. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/21/6737/ Economics Wed, 21 May 2008 18:48:02 +0300 A nonsimple situation is getting around alcoholic drinks in Belarus: cognacs, whiskies, vodkas and wines, imported to the country are not just rising in price. Range of drinks in Belarusian liquor stores is getting poor every day. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/21/6733/ Economics Wed, 21 May 2008 17:15:13 +0300 Now import of Russian hydrocarbons is compensated by export of Belarusian oil products to Europe. But what would happen with the Belarusian economy if tomorrow the Great Britain and the Netherlands join the US sanctions against Belnefrekhim? http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/21/6708/ Economics Wed, 21 May 2008 09:09:45 +0300 Belarus may drag on concluding bargains on selling Naftan and Polimir expecting Gazprom to slow down growth of prices for energy resources delivered to Belarus. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/20/6682/ Economics Tue, 20 May 2008 13:34:22 +0300 The Belarusian State Petrochemical Industry Concern (Belnaftakhim) plans to submit a proposal for selling stakes in the Palimir chemical company and the Naftan oil refinery to the cabinet before the end of this year, Mikhail Asipenka, deputy chairman of the state conglomerate, told reporters in Minsk on May 20, BelaPAN said. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/19/6639/ Economics Mon, 19 May 2008 13:14:36 +0300 Irani company Azarab won tender for exploitation of Padkamenne (the Homel region) chalk deposits in Belarus and a cement plant construction. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/15/6556/ Economics Thu, 15 May 2008 11:19:22 +0300 Sanctions, imposed by the US against Belarusian Belneftekhim company harm the image of the country and frighten away potential investors, head of the National Bank of Belarus Pyotr Prakapovich told to Reuters. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/15/6546/ Economics Thu, 15 May 2008 08:31:22 +0300 Over four months food prices in Minsk have increased by 18.2 per cent, service prices – by 14.8 per cent, oil products prices - by 6.3 per cent. It was informed by the Minsk City Department of Statistics. According to the data of the Ministry of Statistics, the inflation rate for this period amounts to 5.3 per cent. The data of the city department of statistics show a 2.5fold larger figure. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/5/8/6405/ Economics Thu, 08 May 2008 09:47:46 +0300 Alyaksandr Lukashenka touched a problem of prices during his visit to the Hrodna region. He said agricultural products prices would grow. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/4/28/6172/ Economics Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:41:43 +0300 Belarus has worked out the budget 2009 based on Russian gas price of 140 dollars per 1,000 cu m and hopes Gazprom will approve this price. Vice-premier Andrei Kabyakou said it. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/4/23/6020/ Economics Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:38:35 +0300 Belarusbank is looking for a foreign investor. The reason is complicated situation of the biggest Belarusian bank, which can’t pay off its creditors. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/4/22/5980/ Economics Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:02:53 +0300 First Vice Prime minister of Belarus Uladzimer Syamashka is set to “deal with” private loss-making enterprises. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/4/22/5963/ Economics Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:29:08 +0300 In a few weeks before his vacation of a position Agriculture Minister of Belarus Leanid Rusak had written a critical article on the policy of the state at the pages of “Belorusskaya Niva” newspaper. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/4/15/5765/ Economics Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:16:50 +0300 Alyaksandr Lukashenka counts on mutually beneficial cooperation with Heineken N.V. company. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/4/15/5747/ Economics Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:31:04 +0300 Many requests on reviewing of price and index policy in certain branches of economy lay in the Ministry of Economy and the Council of Ministers for over a month. A list of ministries and their proposals impress.