ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO ORDERS TO LIQUIDATE HURRICANE CONSEQUENCES IN SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME
 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.
More than 800 houses, administrative buildings, schools and hospitals were damaged. The most hurricane-heat area was the Berezina region of the Minsk oblast. Sergei Sidorsky briefed that the communications between the regions were restored in 24 hours.
The President paid special attention to the necessity to restore the houses in the shortest possible time.
More than 2 thousand hectares of forests suffered from the hurricane as well. Additional reserves will be sent to the Emergencies and Forestry Ministries to help bring the forests in order. Alexander Lukashenko set forth a task to clear up felt trees, send timber to the processing companies within two or three months.
The Head of State was also informed on the draft socio-economic development forecast of the country and the draft budget 2009. Sergei Sidorsky noted that the government had already prepared all necessary documents. The growth of the gross domestic product in Belarus is projected at the level of 10-12% in 2009. This year, GDP will total Br123 trillion. The President underlined that the budget is set to orient social issues. The new budget will focus on the development of the healthcare, social infrastructure and education. Budget funds for these purposes will be considerably increased. The resources will be put in the acquisition of medical equipment, high-technology production of medical equipment in Belarus and in social companies. The draft budget envisages the average wages in the budgetary sphere to equal $560 by the end of 2009, tax burden reduction that would keep Br2 trillion in the real sector of the economy.
The President was informed that the harvesting campaign had been launched in the Brest and Gomel oblasts. Sergei Sidorsky underlined that this year good readiness of the agricultural companies would help reach high volumes in the harvesting.
The Head of State was reported on the economic development in H1 2008. According to the Prime Minister, stable economy and budget performance give confidence that this year many indices will be increased as against 2007. In 2008, the industry growth in the country makes up 13%. High-technology industries of the country show good performance in comparison with the neighbouring countries where the growth of the industrial production stands at 3-4%. The country has registered a considerable growth of investments (by more than 23% over the same period last year).
The profitability level will exceed 17% this year. According to Sergei Sidorsky, it is provided by the output of high-quality products that are in high demand abroad. In 2008, the exports growth will make up nearly 60%.
In H1 2008, the inflation totaled 7.3%. The Prime Minister noted that the inflation is influenced by the foreign financial factors. He assured that the government would take all necessary measures to secure stability of the Belarusian economy and minimize the inflation level in the country.
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