OREANDA-NEWS. By the end of 2009, the average salary in Belarus may reach \\$550, First Deputy Finance Minister of Belarus Andrei Kharkovets told a session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers which reviewed the draft guidelines of Belarus’ budget-tax policy for 2009 -2010. The session was held in Minsk on May 20.

By the end of 2010 the average salary is expected to be increased up to \\$700. Simultaneously the government will be increasing social transfers (pensions, scholarships, state allowances).

According to Andrei Kharkovets, the revenue structure of the 2009 budget will remain the same and will be sufficient to finance the state expenditures. At the same time the government will be working on streamlining the expenses on the maintenance of budget-financed organizations and adjusting the forms of state support of the real production sector. The Finance Ministry considers that it is necessary to reduce direct support of companies in the form of financial aid and budget loans and replace it with indirect support.

The share of social expenses in the budget is projected to be increased from 61% in 2008 to 64% in 2009. The state will increase the financing of the basic sectors of the social sphere (healthcare and education).