BELARUS WILL CONTINUE SUBSIDIZING AGRICULTURE, IVAN BAMBIZA SAYS

Belarus will continue subsidizing agriculture, Ivan Bambiza says

Belarus will continue subsidizing the agricultural industry, Vice-Premier Ivan Bambiza said when answering the questions of deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly.

He said that “Belarus seeks to make the agriculture an efficient industry. Yet this is the issue of the years to come. We see such system in the neighbouring countries including Russia.”

According to the Vice-Premier, it is a worldwide practice to support agricultural producers. This support ranges from 30% to 50% of the costs of agricultural production. “The support in Belarus ranges within the same parameters,” Ivan Bambiza said. The task of the government today is to create the conditions for attracting potential investors in the agricultural industry who can set up highly efficient productions. The task is to increase agricultural exports so that we could earn some money and increase the purchasing prices. Then the subsidies to the agriculture will reduce.

Ivan Bambiza also spoke about the main areas of work to make the industry more efficient. The conditions are being created to ramp up plant growing, to develop high-technology basis in cattle-breeding. This is the main support of agricultural producers. This is the job the government will be doing in the near-term perspective, the Vice-Premier said.

More than Br1 trillion to be assigned in Belarus for purchasing agricultural machinery in 2008

In 2008, Br1 trillion 50 billion will be assigned in Belarus for purchasing agricultural machinery, Vice-Premier Ivan Bambiza told a session of the House of Representatives and the Council of Republic of the Belarusian Parliament on December 19.

According to him, Br426 billion will be financed from the national fund for the support of agricultural producers. Oblasts’ budgets will assign Br8.9 billion for purchasing agricultural machinery. Bank loans will make up Br561 billion, own funds of companies – Br53 billion.

Ivan Bambiza noted that in 2008, agricultural companies will purchase 950 combine harvesters, 100 fodder choppers, 400 loading machines, 1 thousand of tractors, 500 trucks.

Moreover, in 2008, Br1.572 trillion will be assigned for purchasing mineral fertilizers.

By 2009 Belarus to satisfy completely domestic demand for preserves

By 2009, Belarus is set to satisfy the domestic demand for preserves including juices in full, Vice-Premier Ivan Bambiza told a session of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic of the Belarusian Parliament on December 19.

According to him, today Belarus imports up to 60% of juices. “By the middle of the next year we will ramp up our own capacities to produce juices to satisfy the demand of this country and to make export deliveries,” the Vice-Premier said. He also noted that in 2007-2008, Belarus’ preserving facilities will be overhauled.

Ivan Bambiza noted that Belarus is modernizing the companies of processing industry. Thus, this year more than Br400 billion was assigned to reconstruct and modernize the brewing, distilling, preserving, potato-processing, meat-dairy and sugar refining capacities. By 2010, 14 new companies are expected to be set up in Belarus and 32 companies will be modernized. Belarus is implementing the investment programme 2006-2010. In the near future, sugar refining facilities will continue renovation projects.

According to the Vice-Premier, the near-term goals are to intensify the processing production and expand product lines.

Ivan Bamibiza: Belarus, Russia continue negotiating 2008 gas price

The negotiations with the Russian Federation on the gas price for Belarus next year are still underway, Vice-Premier of Belarus Ivan Bambiza said when answering a question of MPs on whether the price for gas will exceed $119 per 1.000 cubic metres within 2008.

Vadim Popov, the Chairman of the House of Representatives, added that the price of $119 will be presumably valid in Q1 2008. Whether the price will change will be clear after a session of the Union State Council of Ministers, Vadim Popov said.

In 2008, Belarus plans to harvest 7,8mn tonnes of grain

In 2008 Belarus plans to harvest 7 million 800 thousand tonnes of grain, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Ivan Bambiza said at a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic of the Belarusian parliament. According to the Vice-Premier, ambitious goals have been set for the agriculture industry. The production of sugar beets is projected at 3 million tonnes, potatoes at 8 million 750 thousand tonnes, vegetables at 2 million 100 thousand tonnes, flax fibers at 60 thousand tonnes, rapeseed oil at 431 thousand tonnes.

Ivan Bambiza said that in 2008 the national economy will be developing more dynamically. GDP is projected to grow by 11%, incomes of people – by 16-19%. Around 5.2 million square metres of housing will be constructed. “This is why we need to mobilize all resources both on the national and regional level,” the Vice-Premier said.

Belarus Government to take measures to tame prices for homes in 2008

In 2008 the Government of Belarus plans to take measures to tame prices for housing construction, Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bambiza told media on December 19.

He remarked, the need to control prices for housing construction is the fundamental view of the Belarusian government. Both prices for the services construction companies offer and prices for construction materials are controlled. “We will do our best to enable citizens to build affordable homes,” stressed the Vice Premier.

Ivan Bambiza also said, in 2008 housing construction volumes will be boosted in order to address the acute shortage of homes.

Belarus plans to construct two facilities to produce juice in 2008, Ivan Bambiza says

In 2008, Belarus plans to construct two facilities to produce juice, Belarusian Vice-Premier Ivan Bambiza told reporters on December 19. A plant will be constructed by Syabar Company in Bobruisk. The second facility with the production capacity around 250 mln decalitres of juice is expected to be set up near Minsk.

According to Ivan Bambiza, at present the preserving facilities in Belarus are being renovated. Next year, Belarus is set to satisfy the domestic demand for preserves including juices in full.

Belarus to import agricultural machines only unavailable locally in 2008

In 2008 Br1.05 trillion will be appropriated for buying homemade agricultural machines, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Ivan Bambiza told media on December 19.

He said, it is the minimum sum and includes state support. Ivan Bambiza explained, the money will be spent on buying machines made by Gomselmash, MTZ, MAZ and other producers of agricultural machines. “Agricultural companies may use their own money to buy machines as well,” stressed Ivan Bambiza.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, next year Belarus will also import agricultural machines, which are not manufactured in the country. “We will buy the agricultural machines we cannot start manufacturing domestically, but mainly they are technological equipment,” noted Ivan Bambiza. He also explained, there are no plans for special appropriation of funds for importing agricultural machines. Such decisions are up to agricultural companies to make, they can be given support of the state budget.

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