/ / News
06.12.2011

Belarus’ export to go up 11-12% in 2012

MINSK, 6 December (BelTA) – In 2012 Belarus’ export of commodities and services should be increased by 11-12%, Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich told an expanded participation session of the Council of Ministers Presidium on 6 December. The session tabled refined drafts of the social and economic development forecast, the state budget and the major monetary management guidelines for 2012, BelTA has learned.

The head of government remarked that the forecast documents are balanced, targets have been corrected to ensure an increase in gross indicators only via intensive factors. “It is the key peculiarity of the draft forecast: output can be increased only if the materials consumption and energy consumption are reduced while export is increased,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich.

The targeted export and foreign trade balance figures are the most important factors for balancing the entire forecast. The targets are really tough. The foreign trade surplus should be about $1.5 billion while the export of commodities and services should increase by 11.6-12.3% upon the high base of the current year, said Mikhail Myasnikovich. Without accomplishing it it will be impossible to preserve the key conditions of macroeconomic balance. Production growth cannot be accompanied by the growth of the finished goods inventory. Everything that is made should be sold, stressed the Prime Minister.

He said that some executives waste efforts on explaining why they cannot hit the forecast targets instead of seeking ways to do it. For instance, the petrochemical concern Belneftekhim suggests setting a zero level for the materials consumption target. The approach is inadmissible, stressed Mikhail Myasnikovich.

Mikhail Myasnikovich added that the Belarusian state food industry concern Belgospischeprom, the light industry concern Bellegprom, and the forestry and paper industry concern Bellesbumprom had failed to achieve this year’s export growth targets. Instead of reducing materials consumption the Agriculture and Food Ministry and the Architecture and Construction Ministry have increased it. The limit of emission-based lending remains unchanged – Br7 trillion at most. Other resources for development purposes should be earned or attracted, said the head of government.