OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus' draft social and economic development forecast for 2015 has been reduced taking into account complex external challenges, Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich said at the meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 22.

"Experts say that the situation is complicated and the ongoing global crisis is of long duration. We should understand that all countries are in a tough situation," the Premier said. The forecast was finalized taking into account that the price for the barrel of oil might make up USD 83 against the earlier USD 100. The document suggests that the annual average exchange rate of the Russian ruble was revised from RUB39 to RUB43 per US dollar.

According to Economy Minister Nikolai Snopkov, the finalized document envisages the GDP growth at 0.2-0.7%. Proceeding from the forecast level of labor productivity, the growth of actual wages will make up 1.4%. On the whole, real incomes of people will rise up to 1.5%. The finalized document keeps the targeted inflation at 12%. According to the minister, the document should not be seen as the final scenario of the country's development in 2015. The main objective of the economic policy is a flexible response to the changing external conditions.