OREANDA-NEWS. January 23, 2013. Belarus’ fixed-capital investments and investments in construction totalled 151.9 trillion Belarusian rubles (Br) in 2012, or USD 17.5 million at the official rate of the central bank, down 13.8% year on year, the National Statistics Committee told.

As much as 64.6 trillion rubles (USD 7.5bn) was spent on buying machines, equipment, and vehicles in January-December 2012, down 20.4% from the 2011 level.

Investments in construction and assembly operations totalled 73.4 trillion rubles (USD 8.5 bn), down 9.9% on the year in 2012.

As much as 4.485 million square metres of new homes was commissioned in the period, down 18.2% on the year.

A construction industry expert told reporters that Belarus had been gradually recovering investment activities. According to the annual forecast, Belarus was expected to draw around Br145 trillion (USD 16.7 billion) in fixed-capital investments in 2012, while the actual figure is almost USD 1 billion higher than planned, the expert said. Furthermore, investments were on the rise month on month: in December investments grew 1% year on year and 55% month on month. The expert interprets this as a sign of steady recovery.

Belarus will most likely succeed in drawing around USD 20 billion in fixed capital investments in 2013, the expert said. “If the 2012 trend continues, the government will fulfil the target. Now they should take care to raise companies’ equity capital and draw foreign investments,” the expert said.