OREANDA-NEWS. September 24, 2009. ORSHA, 23 September (BelTA) – A draft forecast of Belarus’ social and economic development in 2010 will be submitted for consideration of the Belarus President by 1 October, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky told media on 23 September. The Prime Minister is expected to get familiar with the progress of retooling the Orsha flax factory.

The draft forecast outlines two scenarios of the national economy development. The balanced basic one expects the GDP growth rate to be at 102-103% while the reassuring prospective scenario expects the GDP growth rate as high as 110-111%.

“The development of the Belarusian economy will depend on the activeness of foreign markets,” explained Sergei Sidorsky. At present many countries, including Russia and the USA, have announced they are recovering from the crisis. The recovery enables the government to expect a revival of markets and the global economy as a whole, hence an increase in Belarusian export.

Reaching into new markets will be another factor to contribute to the optimistic development of the Belarusian economy, Sergei Sidorsky is convinced. “We see that in third countries in Africa and Asia Belarusian products are in demand,” he said. For instance, Africa needs up to 50,000 tractors. Actually the entire output of the tractor plant can be sold, explained the Prime Minister. There is also demand for products made by BelAZ, MAZ and other flagships. “These are new prospects and they should be explored faster. The economy development will depend on how fast we get a solid grip onto these markets,” he stressed.