OREANDA-NEWS. March 02, 2010. Almost Br387 billion of Belarus’ budget was injected in the state integrated program on developing regions, small and medium-sized towns in 2009, Economy Minister of Belarus Nikolai Snopkov said at a session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers on 2 March.

It totaled 95.3% of the preset annual amount. The sum included nearly Br83 billion of the national budget, Br162 billion of oblast budgets and about Br31 billion of the regional budgets.

“On the whole small urban settlements utilized Br5.9 trillion of capital investments, 14% of the total,” the minister said. “Investments should, first of all, aim the production sector in order to secure a sustained increase in wages and the relevant living standards of people,” he added.

According to Nikolai Snopkov, the average industrial output in the urban settlements made up Br90 billion in 2009. At estimated 51 towns posted the industrial output less than Br10 billion. It is too early to speak about the advancement of such settlements, the minister believes.

As for the agricultural industry of the Belarusian regions, the Economy Minister noted that the grain production leaves much straw unused. At the same time straw can be used in manufacturing pellets (one tonne of pellets costs USD 74). “Every urban settlement can earn additional Br8 billion sending straw for pellets production,” Nikolai Snopkov considers.

In his words, the Economy Ministry had addressed the oblast executive committees three times to make proposals on new manufactures with an annual output of at least Br20 billion as well as on any assistance and support necessary from the government. The Economy Ministry has not received any reply yet, Nikolai Snopkov said.