30 July 2008
Various economic scenarios considered for 2009, deputy minister says

The Belarusian economy ministry is considering various scenarios of the country's economic performance for the next year, Deputy Minister Tatsyana Starchanka said at a news conference in Minsk on Wednesday.

The deputy minister was asked whether the ministry was planning to revise its draft economic forecast for 2009 in the context of uncertainty about prices that Belarus would have to pay.

"Such calculations are being carried out," Ms. Starchanka said. "But I also should say that the year 2007 was a difficult year for Belarus. Many experts were predicting a decrease in output and even shocks and an economic crisis. However, you know the results of the previous year."

The deputy minister acknowledged that a higher natural gas price would "lead to the worsening of the financial situation," but expressed the opinion that the current economic "potential" and efforts to use new technologies and launch new products would help avoid "critical situations." //BelaPAN