Belarus reports surplus in foreign trade in 2012

Belarus managed to achieve surplus in its foreign trade in 2012, in spite of the external pressure and unstable situation in the global economy, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei told the ministry’s board on Friday. The meeting was devoted to the analysis of the ministry’s activity in 2012. “The Foreign Ministry implemented its tasks in 2012 in the complicated conditions, which were determined by the ongoing external pressure on Belarus and the instable situation in the world’s economy. However, the forecasted parameter, which was set by the president, on the surplus of the foreign trade in goods and services was fulfilled,” he said. The minister offered to focus the attention on the strategic component – the analysis of the ministry’s activity in the foreign economic area and discuss possibilities for the improvement of an action plan in order to fully implement tasks and achieve targets, put forth by the head of state. According to official data, the Belarusian surplus of foreign trade in goods and services amounted to 2.915 billion US dollars in 2012, as compared to the targeted indicator of 1.5 billion US dollars. In 2011, the republic reported foreign trade deficit at 1.186 billion US dollars. In 2012, the Belarusian foreign trade of services increased by 14.5 percent, as compared to 2011, while the republic’s foreign trade of goods grew by 6.1 percent.