Official says agricultural production slows down Belarus’ GDP fall

September 20, BPN. The Belarusian economy has started showing signs of a “gradual recovery” despite Western sanctions, said Juryj Čabatar, first deputy economy minister.

Belarus’ GDP grew by 0.3 percent month-on-month in August due to key contributions from agriculture, but the economy contracted by 4.9 percent in eight months of 2022, the ministry’s press office quoted him as saying.

He added that a good harvest of crops along and increased poultry and milk production will make it possible to maintain that momentum in September.

Čabatar also attributed economic recovery to improved performance of the manufacturing sector, noting that revenues grew by 10.3 percent in the first seven months of 2022 year on year; sales revenues, by 21.9 percent; net profit, by 6.5 percent.

The economy ministry said it expected “the emerging positive trends” to consolidate.