OREANDA-NEWS. The fulfilment of the 2003-2008 state programme for developing international automobile transportation of passengers and freights in 2006 and H1 2007 will be considered at a session of the Council of Ministers Presidium on October 2. The session will be chaired by Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky, reported the Official website www.government.by.

The programme provides for 27 measures aimed at developing international automobile transportation of freights and 29 measures to develop international automobile transportation of passengers. The key targets of the programme are setting up favourable legal, organisational, economic and technical conditions for developing this industry and raising the quality and effectiveness of transportation.

However, the accomplishment of the measures has failed to achieve the targeted goals. The total number of travels has shrunk. In H1 2007 the number of travels made 19 thousand. The number is expected to be under 30 thousand in 2007, while the plans put it at 42,3 thousand.

The export of services during the automobile transportation of passengers amounted to $3,8 million in 2006, 36% up on the year. This year’s figure is expected to make $4,2, with the planned figure as large as $6,3 million.

In H1 2007 the export of services during the automobile transportation of freights swelled by 38.5% up on the same period of last year (from $137,4 million to $190,3 million).

The annual growth of shipping rates and more effective use of rolling stock contributed to the increase in export of services using trucks. Besides, the Transport Ministry facilitated the issuance of permits for travels in other countries. Differentiated distribution of permits between shipping companies is made considering earnings per vehicle. As a result, the average earnings per vehicle increased from $37,4 thousand in 2004 to $55,9 thousand in 2006.

The programme pays special attention to the development of transit transportation and removal of barriers hindering international cargo transportation via Belarus. As a result, from 2002 to 2006 transit via Belarus doubled. Other automobile transport services (road tolls, automobile fuel, roadside services) increased 7,3 fold since 2002. The state budget earned some $200 per vehicle in transit via Belarus on the average.

Meanwhile, problems hindering the development of international automobile transportation in Belarus have yet to be addressed. High taxes automobile transportation involves are some of the problems. The share of automobiles compliant with high ecological standards has to be increased. These issues will also be discussed at the session of the Council of Ministers Presidium.