OREANDA-NEWS. On January 24, 2007 the government of Belarus has approved a plan of actions to be carried out in 2008 as part of the implementation of the 2006-2010 national export development programme. The corresponding decision is laid down by the Council of Ministers’ resolution No 83 of January 22, 2008, reported the Official website www.government.by.

According to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, the plan includes 169 measures aimed at developing the export of commodities and services. It was developed by the Foreign Ministry using proposals of ministries and concerns, other state administration agencies, the National Bank, oblast administrations, Minsk City Hall, foreign institutions of the Republic of Belarus. The measures meant to develop the export of services were worked out by the Economy Ministry in association with interested agencies.

The Foreign Ministry stressed, special attention is focused on expanding the export of Belarusian services, as it is the least resource-intensive industry.

In 2008 measures aimed at implementing the national export development programme will be carried out in such areas as export development planning, further extension of the overseas trade infrastructure, including extension through setting up commodity distribution enterprises, improvement of the competitive ability of Belarusian products. Work will continue to master the production of new goods to be exported, introduce international standards, and implement export-oriented investment projects. There are also plans to carry out measures relating to the informational support for overseas trade and improvement of the legal base.

The 2006-2010 national export development programme outlines basic and optimistic export development scenarios. The latter envisages the most favourable competition on foreign markets. Both the scenarios expect Belarus to reach a stable foreign trade surplus. In line with the programme in 2010 the export of services is supposed to go up to $3,5 billion according to the basic scenario and up to $4 billion according to the optimistic scenario. By 2010 the export of commodities is supposed to increase up to $25,2 billion according to the basic scenario and up to $29,1 billion according to the optimistic scenario.