OREANDA-NEWS. On 14 August 2009 was announced, that the share of services in the Belarusian GDP was at 43.1% as of July 1, 2009, short of the original target, set between 44% and 45%, Economy Minister Nikolai Zaichenko said at a session of the Council of Ministers.

Exports of services fell 22.6% on the year in January-May. “We saw a 48% drop in commodity exports, but the situation with services is no consolation, as we though services would make up for the fall in exports of goods,” he said.

Road transport volume fell 5.4% on the year in the first five months, rail transport volume decreased 12.9%, and the volume of fee-based services decreased 1.6%.

Zaichenko believes the government should support the key “contributors” to the GDP, especially to protect domestic haulers, search for new export markets and seek to have the number of Russian permissions for Belarusian carriers at least the same as before.

Zaichenko said efforts must be redoubled to build a logistical center near Volozhin and Prilesye center near Minsk free economic zone.

Other priorities include transport of high-capacity containers and creation of container terminals, completion of repairs in the national airport Minsk and creation of a maintenance center servicing western and Russian aircraft.