An archive photo
MINSK, 3 November (BelTA) – While commenting on Presidential Decree No.385, which approved the key forecast parameters for the country’s development in 2026, Belarusian Economy Minister Yuri Chebotar told journalists about the areas that will ensure GDP growth in 2026, BelTA has learned.
The president has approved the main targets for the country’s social and economic development in 2026. According to Yuri Chebotar, the forecasting process took into account several conditions: the dynamics of external markets, including the market of the main trading partner Russia, as well as internal conditions and set objectives. The minister emphasized that this document is fully aligned with the social and economic development program and state programs, making the signing of the decree the final stage of Belarus’ development planning and forecasting.
The key objective is to ensure a GDP growth rate of 102.8% compared to the 2025 level, which will be achieved through several key areas. “First is the development of the production and export program, aimed at increasing the export of goods and services by 3.7% (a target also approved by the decree for 2026). Ministries, concerns, and regional executive committees have been tasked with expanding their presence on other markets, particularly in non-CIS countries and Asia, while maintaining a stable position on the Russian market. Enterprises need to prepare business plans as soon as possible to fulfill these tasks,” the economy minister noted.
The second area is the investment program, which involves boosting housing construction with a priority on rental housing for those in need and for in-demand specialists, as identified by local authorities in their regions.
The development of infrastructure and commercial projects is also planned. “For commercial projects, we expect the main growth, including this year, considering the Regional Initiative. A month has passed, and the increase under this initiative amounted to Br300 million. If this trend continues, growth in commercial investments is expected to be nearly 20%. Through all this combined work, the real income of the population should increase by more than 4% next year,” Yuri Chebotar added. He stated that the key factor here is the growth of labor productivity through the introduction of modern methods of automation and robotization.
The plans also include new financial products and support mechanisms for priority areas, including tourism and robotics.
The country’s development forecast is closely linked to Belarus’ five-year program of social and economic development, but remains challenging due to risks in the global economy and Russia’s moderate growth, projected at 101.3%. “These are the conditions we will have to work with next year. This is precisely why we are developing support mechanisms for our exporters,” the minister emphasized.
According to Yuri Chebotar, the main response to these challenges is to expand presence in other markets. “Many experts note that Africa is the leader in terms of growth intensity and consumption potential given its population size. This market is estimated to have an economic growth rate of about 4%. The Asian market also remains one of the most dynamically developing. It is on these two markets that we need to actively increase our presence,” the economy minister believes. “Furthermore, the CIS countries, with which we share a common past, are of great importance. Here, the key task is to strengthen our presence since we are already known there, and our products are trusted. There is no particular need to advertise brands; we simply need to expand our influence.”
Follow us on:
