Business news

MINSK, 21 February (BelTA) – Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov instructed the Architecture and Construction Ministry to boost the export of construction services at the session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers held on 21 February to discuss Belarus’ social and economic development in January 2017 and measures to ensure economic growth in Q1 2017, BelTA has learned.

“I am concerned with the continuing decline in the gross value added in the construction sector. The figures for January 2017 were lower by 27.5% than in January 2015,” Andrei Kobyakov said.

The export of construction services went up by 3.6% in 2016, but that was only thanks to Minsk and Minsk Oblast. In Vitebsk Oblast and Gomel Oblast, the export of construction services decreased twofold. Mogilev Oblast saw a decline of 42%. Brest and Grodno are also underperforming (a fall of 12.8% and 13.7% respectively).

“I instruct the deputy architecture and construction minister to report on measures taken to reverse the trend, on what is done to increase the export of services and how the ministry coordinates the work to fulfill these tasks,” the head of state said.