OREANDA-NEWS. February 04, 2010. Belarus’ target for economic growth in 2010 is quite attainable, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky told media in Gomel on.

In his words, under the altered terms of the Russian oil supplies to Belarus, the growth rate of the Belarusian economy planned for this year is real and achievable. “We are expecting a gradual growth from 100% to the forecast 111-113% in 2010,” Sergei Sidorsky said.

The government has also considered the further development of the GDP-forming companies of the country. “We have done everything possible to support such companies both on the domestic and foreign markets in order to balance their production indicators,” the Premier said.

Sergei Sidorsky stressed that the country’s economy cannot be balanced without foreign investments. In 2010 Belarus plans to attract USD 2.7 billion of direct foreign investments.

Analyzing the activity of the economic sectors this year, Sergei Sidorsky informed that in January 2010 the industrial output of the oil-refining and petrochemical sectors fell 8% as against January 2009. The reduction was driven by the changes made in the terms of oil supplies from Russia to Belarus. “These alterations have brought down the growth rate in the area. Its industrial output is expected to make up 92% in January,” the Prime Minister said. At the same time he noted that the government of Belarus had offered Russia to settle the issue concerning oil deliveries in H1 2010. “The Russian side, however, insisted on the issue to be considered in the early January,” Sergei Sidorsky added.