OREANDA-NEWS. On December 11, 2008 the President of the Republic of Belarus signed Decree No 684 specifying certain indicators of the national budget 2008, reported the Official website http://president.gov.by.

The Decree provides for increasing the 2008 budget revenues by Br 8.24 trillion, budget expenditure by Br 6.15 trillion and reducing the budget deficit by Br 2.09 trillion as against those set out in the Law “On the Budget of the Republic of Belarus for the Year 2008”.

The revenues of the republican budget by the end of 2008 can reach Br 46.39 trillion, expenditure expected to amount to Br 46.74 trillion and the budget deficit is approved in the amount of Br 344.7 billion.

More funds will be allocated to finance public capital investments and housing loans at reduced interest rates.

In addition, the Decree provides for increasing the funds to be transferred from the republican budget to the budgets of Belarus’ regions and the city of Minsk, the expenditure of certain special-purpose state budget funds and expenditure of the Social Security Fund (primarily for payment of pensions and social allowances).

As a result of the budget amendments changes have been introduced to the State Investment Programme 2008 and to some other socio-economic projects with the view of increasing expenses on construction of certain facilities which are due for commissioning or will be under construction in 2008.