OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus' GDP is expected to grow by 2.4-2.8% year on year in 2015, a source in the Belarusian government told with reference to the draft forecast of the country's socioeconomic development for 2015.

Belarus' GDP growth is expected at 2.8-3.2% in 2016 and 3.2-3.6% in 2017. According to the draft forecast, inflation growth will not exceed 12.6% in 2015, 10% being the limit for 2016 and 8% for 2017.

In 2013, Belarus' GDP grew 0.9% on the year to 636.8 trillion Belarusian rubles (USD 63.066 billion). The government had planned to see the GDP grow 8.5% in 2013. Belarus' government expects the GDP to expand 3.3% in 2014.

As previously reported, Belarus was there to witness a 1.2% inflation growth in June 2014, while in January-June 2014 consumer prices grew 10.2%.

Belarus' government originally expected inflation growth to stay under 11% in 2014, however in April the forecast was downplayed to 16-17%. Belarus' consumer prices grew 16.5% in 2013, while the government's forecast stood at 12%.

At the same time, Belarus' foreign trade surplus is expected at USD 24.8 million in 2015, which accounts for 0.03% of the GDP. In 2016 Belarus is expected to have a foreign trade surplus of USD 519.3 million (0.6% of GDP), 2017 - USD 493.7 million (0.6%).

According to the forecast, Belarus' foreign trade turnover of goods and services is expected to grow by 1.7% on the year in 2015.

Belarus' government expects a foreign trade deficit of USD 625.6 million in 2014, which will account for 0.8% of the GDP.

The average weighted rate of the Belarusian ruble is seen at Br11,350/USD 1 in 2015, to compare with Br10,200/USD 1 specified in the 2014 forecast.

The 2016 average weighted rate of the Belarusian ruble is expected at Br12,400/USD 1, 2017 - Br13,250/USD 1.

According to the official report of the National Bank of Belarus, Belarus has lost 8.2% of the its value against the US dollar since year this year to Br10,290/USD 1 as of July 24, 2014, to compare with Br9,510/USD 1 as of December 31, 2013. In turn, the Belarusian ruble lost 5.29% against the basket of currencies of Belarus' major trade partners.