Belarusian oil refineries worked profitably in the first quarter of 2010. It was reported to the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, by Prime Minister, Sergei Sidorsky. "A product developed at our facilities (diesel, gasoline), provided the country's economy and especially the sowing season in maximum volume", the head of government stressed.
«For today, we have ensured the processing of oil’s volume, which we supposed to supply in the first quarter of this year. We have processed 3.6 million tons of oil. This is significantly lower than last year’s level, but, in general, oil refineries could provide a positive profitability in the light of high technology and high depth of processing», Sergei Sidorsky said.
The Prime Minister drew attention to the fact that so far there are a number of unresolved issues with Russia. «The application of export duties on oil products, used as chemical raw material, is seriously hampered, and in some items, led to a complete cessation of petroleum products supply to petrochemical enterprises of Belarus», Belarusian Prime Minister explained, the press service of the President informs.
Touching on the issue of diversification of oil supplies to Belarus, Sergei Sidorsky noted that 80 thousand tons of Belarusian oil are already being moved. «This oil will have been delivered to Belarusian refineries by May of this year. Necessary routes are worked out. This oil will be processed and exported», the Prime Minister said.
The government chose step-wise strategy in economy, Sidorsky
According to Sergei Sidorsky, the government chose step-wise strategy to develop country’s economy every month. «In general, the results of socio-economic development of Belarus over January-March of 2010 show the restoration of economic growth, which was significantly slowed by the global financial crisis», the Prime Minister underlined.
The Prime Minister informed that the growth rate for January-March of 2010 amounted to 104%, what is 0.5% higher than the results for January-February of 2010. Growth rate of industrial output amounted to 105.9% against 104.2% in January-February of this year, the gross agricultural output’s growth is 105.3%.
Sergei Sidorsky also drew attention of Alexander Lukashenko to the fact that in the first quarter they could reduce the stocks from 75% to 71%. «Large enterprises: MAZ, MTZ, BMZ, chemical complex companies begin to work actively. For the first time in the past two months, there has been more product sold than produced at MAZ. It shows that the industry starts to develop not only through one-time supplies, but also through active concrete actions on foreign markets. The outlets for Belarusian goods are expanding», the Prime Minister said.
Belarusian Prime Minister noted that in the first quarter of 2010, 1.5 million square meters of housing was put into exploitation, and established task performed by all regions, except Minsk.
«The volume of foreign trade in goods and services in January-February of 2010 amounted to 117.4%. However, Belarusian exports in the difficult conditions of the world markets’ narrowing increased by 31.2%», Sergei Sidorsky said.
Inflation reached 2.5%, Sidorsky
Belarusian Prime Minister also said that inflation in Belarus in the first quarter of 2010 was at the level of 2.5%, what is lower than in neighboring countries. «Retail trade turnover in January-March of 2010 amounted to 14.1 trillion rubles, or 13.3% higher than the level of corresponding period of 2009», Sergey Sidorsky said.
The head of the government believes that there are good preconditions in the country’s economy to perform a task to increase the average monthly wage to a level of $ 500.
