29 July 2008
Belarusian economy will cope with rise in energy prices, vice premier says

Deputy Prime Minister Uladzimir Syamashka has expressed certainty that the Belarusian economy will “withstand” a possible rise in energy prices thanks to its high profitability, BelaPAN reports.

While speaking at a meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 29, the vice premier said that the economy had a profitability of 17.8 percent from January through May, while a 13-percent rate had been expected.

“Today next year’s price of energy resources is not yet clear, but if there’s a pessimistic scenario our companies’ profitability will be the economy’s crucial absorber that will make it possible to withstand another blow by energy prices,” official information sources quoted him as saying.