President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has ordered to liquidate hurricane consequences in the shortest possible time. The task was set forth during the report of Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky on July 17. According to the presidential press service, Alexander Lukashenko was informed on the work being done to liquidate the consequences of a hurricane that took place on July 13-15. The Minsk oblast, one region in the Mogilev oblast and two regions in the Brest oblast suffered from the natural calamity.

At a session of the Council of Ministers on July 15, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky suggested introducing two new indicators of economic growth.

On July 11, Prime Ministers of Belarus and Latvia Sergei Sidorsky and Ivars Godmanis met on the Belarusian-Latvian border in the border checkpoint Urbany-Silene.

Belarus and Turkey have a huge potential to boost bilateral trade, First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko noted during a meeting with a Turkish delegation led by Turkish Secretary of State for External Trade Tuncer Kayalar.

The process of transforming the Minsk Automobile Works (MAZ trademark) into a joint-stock company got underway, First Vice-Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko said at a session of the union of non-profit companies “Confederation of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs (Employers)” on July 10.

Belarus plans to double oil extraction in Venezuela to reach two million tonnes in 2009, First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko said at a reception dedicated to the Independence Day of Venezuela in the Palace of Republic on July 8.

On June 27, 2008 a regular meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Union State was held in Moscow.

In Q1 2008, Belarus attracted $21.1 billion of foreign investments, 1.7 times up over the same period of 2007, First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Semashko stated at a joint session of the two chambers of the Belarusian parliament on June 27.

Belarus will open a trade representation in the Samara region of the Russian Federation in the near future, Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky noted during his meeting with Governor of the Samara Region, Chairman of the Samara Government Vladimir Artyakov on June 25.