European Union to gift vehicles, equipment to Belarusian border guard unit

• 13.10.2016 14:52

A solemn ceremony to hand over border-guarding vehicles and equipment purchased at the expense of the European Union will take place in Pinsk, Brest Oblast on 13 October, the press service of the State Border Committee of Belarus told BelTA.

The equipment and vehicles will be handed over as part of the international technical aid project implemented by the International Organization for Migration and financed by the European Union for the sake of improving the security of the green and water border between Belarus and Ukraine. The Pinsk border service unit, which is in charge of protecting part of the Belarusian-Ukrainian border, will receive the new vehicles and equipment this time.

The handover ceremony will take place in Pinsk's central square. An exhibition will be arranged to demonstrate all kinds of off-road vehicles, high-speed motor boats, alarm solutions that the local border service unit will get. Some of the special hardware will be demonstrated live. In particular, patrol boats will travel along the Pina River in a demonstration run.

Representatives of the border services of Belarus and Ukraine, the representative office of the European Union in Belarus, the International Organization for Migration, other international organizations, diplomatic missions, and government agencies will attend the ceremony.

The international technical aid project is formally known as “Strengthening surveillance and bilateral coordination capacity along the common border between Belarus and Ukraine” (SURCAP Phase II). The acquisition and handover of the vehicles and equipment is but one facet of the project. Apart from that, representatives of the Belarusian border service are expected to visit European Union countries to study the best border-guarding practices. Educational seminars will be arranged to look at various aspects of integrated border management. A pilot contact point Pinsk-Zhitomir will be established as well. The project's budget for both sides stands at €5.3 million.

Belarus annuls oil transit tariff increase

• 12.10.2016 14:33

The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade (MART) of Belarus issued Resolution No.34 of 7 October 2016 to annul Resolution No.30 of 28 September 2016 that envisaged the increase in tariffs on the transit of oil.

The relevant information has been posted on the National Legal Internet Portal, BelTA informs.

Under the document, MART's Resolution of 28 September 2016 “Concerning the tariffs on oil transportation through the major pipelines of the Republic of Belarus” shall be considered to have lost force.

The Resolution also introduces the earlier-valid tariffs on oil transportation through the major pipelines of Gomeltransneft Druzhba and Polotsktransneft Druzhba.

In particular, the tariff on the transportation of oil will remain RUB267.32 per tonne netto (not including VAT) via Unecha (Vysokoye)-Adamova Zastava route, RUB114.82 via Unecha (Vysokoye)-Brody, and RUB32.31 via Nevel (Velikiye Luki)-Polotsk-Vysokoye.

The resolution will come into effect on 12 October.

Earlier, Belarus' Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko informed that Belarus and Russia reached a compromise regarding oil supplies. In his words, Russia will restore its oil deliveries to Belarus, and Belarus will revoke its decision to increase transit tariffs.

В Заславле прошел конкурс модельеров-конструкторов «Модный силуэт»

• 12.10.2016 07:06

На областной конкурс модельеров-конструкторов, дизайнеров, творческих коллективов (закройщик, портная, швея) «Модный силуэт», проходивший в рамках конкурса профессионального мастерства «Мастер Минской области- 2016» в Заславле, где были  представлены 18 дизайнерских коллекций, творческий коллектив ОАО «Смолевичский РКБО» (коллекция «Очарование осени») был удостоен почетного  II места  в номинации «Pret-a-porte» .

Belarus has potential to reach $7.5bn in food exports

• 10.10.2016 12:09

Belarus has the potential to increase its food exports to $7.5 billion, Belarus' Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusy said in an interview to the ONT TV channel, BelTA has learned.

Belarus Parliament approves 2017 budget bill in second reading

• 05.10.2016 13:45

Members of the House of Representatives approved the national budget 2017 bill in the second reading, BelTA has learned.

“The MPs were actively involved in all stages of the development of the bill, have made their comments and suggestions, some of which have been taken into account,” said Lyudmila Dobrynia, the chairperson of the permanent commission for budget and finance of the House of Representatives. The budget is realistic, taking into account the environment in which the Belarusian economy operates. This is the result of compromises of the political, economic and social interests,” she said.

The budget surplus is projected at Br1,496.2 million. The revenues of the draft budget 2017 are forecast at Br18,235.2 million, or up by 6.1% from 2016. The main sources of tax revenue are the value added tax (31.5%), excises (7.6%), tax revenues from foreign economic activity (10.5%).

The budget expenditures are forecast at Br16,739.1 million in 2017, or 98.9% of the 2016 budget expenditures.

The key objectives in 2017 will be to recover the economic growth, enhance the competitiveness of the economy and create the conditions for achieving the goals set out in Belarus' social and economic development program 2016-2020.

Improving national competitiveness named Belarus' major priority for 2017

• 04.10.2016 13:05

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 358 “Concerning the main priorities of Belarus' social and economic development in 2017”, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

The main priorities of the country's social and economic development in 2017 are the improvement of the national competitiveness and the creation of conditions for the implementation of Belarus' social and economic development program for 2016-2020.

The document also specified key priorities of Belarus' social and economic development in 2017. These are the macroeconomic balance, financial recovery of real production sector organizations, development of an efficient employment system, higher labor productivity, creation of new jobs, more efficient state property management, involvement of the inefficiently used state-owned property in the economic turnover, improvement of the investment climate, reduction of the administrative burden on business.

The reduction of inflation to the level of less than 9%, the inflow of $1.4 billion worth of foreign direct investments on a net basis are the keys to preserving macroeconomic stability in 2017.

In 2017, the gross domestic product is projected at the level of 101.7% over 2016.

Plans have been made to ensure a 3.8% growth of export of goods and services from the level of 2016.

The growth rate of labor productivity will make up 101.8% in comparison with the previous year. It will exceed the growth of real wages (101.5%) and real disposable incomes of the population (101.3%).

Belarus' FinMin on gas price uncertainty: No big risks for 2017 budget

• 03.10.2016 13:28

There are no big risks for the Belarusian budget 2017 in connection with the uncertain situation regarding the price for Russian gas, Belarus' Finance Minister Vladimir Amarin told reporters, BelTA has learned.

“The budget does not directly depend on gas prices. These are the utilities that are paid by the budget-financed organizations. We have set them at the level of inflation. So I think there are no big risks,” the minister said.

At a meeting of the House of Representatives Vladimir Amarin presented the draft national budget for 2017 which passed the first reading. As was reported, next year's budget will retain the social focus. Healthcare and education are among the priorities for funding. The draft budget provides for the family capital in the amount of Br457.8 million. The budget surplus is projected at Br1,496.2 million.

Time for tighter business cooperation in Belarus-China relations

• 30.09.2016 14:14

The state visit of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to China will herald the transition from credit and investment cooperation to direct investments, BelTA learned from Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Nikolai Snopkov on 28 September.

Nikolai Snopkov said that cumulative investments over the last five years nearly quadrupled in comparison with the previous five-year term. China's foreign direct investments soared by ten times in the last five years. “Progressive advancement is obvious. The capacity of the markets and the ability of our enterprises to get Chinese companies to become part of their manufacturing cooperation schemes are something to think about. This is why among other things the visit will herald the transition from credit and investment cooperation to direct investments,” said the Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration.

“We've been weighing up each other for some time, putting more focus on credit and investment cooperation. Time has come for the mutual penetration of the private sectors,” stressed Nikolai Snopkov.

According to the source, the fact that Belarus participated as a guest of honor in the fifth China-Eurasia Expo that took place in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China on 20-25 September confirms the interest of Chinese investors in Belarus. “Belarus and Urumqi are two nodal platforms on the way of the Silk Road Economic Belt. The matter was thoroughly discussed with colleagues from Urumqi, in particular, ways and potential for interaction between the two nodal platforms of the Silk Road Economic Belt. The Chinese government has adopted a special program to develop Urumqi as a hub of the economic belt. People over there are interested in working together with Belarus.”

Nikolai Snopkov also noted that the similar views of the leaders of Belarus and China on the need to advance integration process on a larger scale also contribute to the joint work on promoting the Silk Road Economic Belt project. In particular, Nikolai Snopkov mentioned Alexander Lukashenko's integration of integrations concept. “In other words, the ideology of the two leaders is getting implemented in real life as the joint construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt,” he said.

EU ready to help Belarus raise investment

• 29.09.2016 10:42

The European Union is ready to help Belarus attract foreign investment, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission Vassilis Maragos said at the forum titled as Broadening the Horizons: Investment, Finance, Development in Minsk on 29 September, BelTA has learned.

“The European Union is ready to provide assistance to Belarus in generating investment,” stressed the representative of the European Commission. He added, however, that it is important for the EU to see what Belarus is ready to do in the sector for further reforms, creation of favorable conditions for investment generation, improving its reputation.

Belarus' main advantages include the country's highly-educated people, skilled labor force, competitive products, rapidly developing IT sector, rich traditions in mechanical engineering and processing industry. The reforms held by the Belarusian government helped improve the situation in the private sector, the EC representative stressed. Today Belarus attaches more attention to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. This is also a positive signal, he added.

The EU develops cooperation with Belarus on a number of projects in energy, SMEs promotion, and IT. “We are facing new challenges and can address them together. The experience of West European countries can be a great example for Belarus, and we are ready to cooperate with you. Thus, we will be able to reach bigger results on the back of the common goals, including in ensuring security worldwide,” he stressed.

Vassilis Maragos said that preparations for a number of partner agreements are underway. “They envisage financing to the total tune of €30 million. We will continue stepping up these efforts. This will include management of migration flows, small and medium-sized business development,” he explained.

Today Belarus has an opportunity to attract the funds of the European Investment Bank, the EC representative added. “We will work with the bank, the government of Belarus and local authorities in order to identify real investment projects that can be supported. We are also considering the possibility of providing grants through the European Neighborhood fund,” the expert said.

Minsk is hosting the Broadening the Horizons: Investment, Finance, Development forum on 29-30 September. Experts are discussing strategies to attract foreign investment to Belarus, prospects of investment cooperation with the financial institutions of the EU, the Eurasian Economic Union and China, opportunities for attracting U.S. investors in the implementation of projects, and other issues of current importance. It is expected that a roadmap will be developed to outline the main directions for joint action to improve the institutional environment for expanding investment and funding opportunities, which, in turn, will promote the development of the public and private sectors of the Belarusian economy.

Five-day rule for visa-free travels to Belarus under consideration

• 28.09.2016 13:35

Belarus is considering the introduction of visa-free travel for visits up to five days for tourists entering the country via Minsk National Airport, Belarusian Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister Mikhail Portnoi told reporters on 26 September, BelTA has learned.

“At the moment, we are considering the possibility of granting visa-free entry for short stays of up to five days for people from safe countries of origin who come to Belarus via Minsk National Airport,” Mikhail Portnoi said.

He noted that the Economy Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sports and Tourism Ministry actively support the initiative. “The defense and law enforcement agencies voice certain doubts. Of course, national security is paramount. Still, the document is almost ready. I think it will come into force this year,” Mikhail Portnoi said.