OREANDA-NEWS. January 18, 2007. Gomel oblast takes one of the leading positions in the national economy of Belarus, Sergei Sidorsky told reporters. The Prime Minister is in Gomel for the celebrations dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the oblast, reported the Official website www.government.by.

“The Gomel oblast is one of the most successful and highly developed industrial regions of the Republic of Belarus, Sergei Sidorsky said. – It possesses a big industrial potential and ranks first in the country in terms of industrial output.”

The Government of the country pays big attention to the development of the economic potential of the Gomel oblast. Last year alone, more than 70 new productions were set up there, 25 agro-towns were developed, Sergei Sidorsky said. The oblast repeatedly confirmed its leading position in the growth of capital investments. In 2007 the biggest investment projects in the Gomel oblast were the setting up of the seamless pipe production at Belarusian Steel Works, expanding the production at Mozyr Oil Refinery, launching the manufacture of new farm machines at Production Association Gomselmash. The oblast increased foreign trade by one third, with the surplus exceeding $2 billion.

The oblast will continue advancing in 2008, Sergei Sidorsky is confident. For example, Mozyr Oil Refinery will commission an alkylation plant to produce a high-octane eco-friendly petrol additive and will continue the construction of a petrol hydrodesulfurization plant to improve quality of petrol.