Strong policy support, low comparison base spur optimism among governments Local governments in China are setting annual growth targets of above 5 percent this year, mapping out their economic blueprints amid expectations of a notable rebound. Experts said that several cities are targeting faster growth as policymakers are adopting a more pro-growth stance, which will significantly boost market confidence and expectations amid headwinds and uncertainties. They voiced optimism...

New Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Imangali Tasmagambetov may visit Belarus in February, BelTA learned from State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aleksandr Volfovich. Aleksandr Volfovich was in Moscow on 10 January to introduce the new CSTO secretary general to top officials of the CSTO Secretariat, the CSTO Joint Staff, and permanent and plenipotentiary representatives of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member...

 About Br4 billion has been appropriated for servicing the state debt in Belarus in 2023. Belarusian First Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Kiyko made the statement on the air of the TV Belarusian channel STV, BelTA has learned. Dmitry Kiyko said: “There are issues with the state debt every year. The state budget for the year 2023 has appropriated about Br4 billion for servicing the state debt. Nearly 75% of the sum in currencies of the countries that are friendly to us. The...

In 2022 the amount of foreign currency sold by natural persons in Belarus exceeded the amount of foreign currency that Belarusians bought by $26.3 million, BelTA learned from the statistics released by the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB). In 2022 individuals bought the equivalent of $10.032 billion in cash and cashless forms and sold $10.059 billion worth of foreign currency. In December 2022 the net demand of natural persons for foreign currency totaled $109.6...

The Council of Ministers has introduced rates of export customs duties on timber and woodworking products. The measures are stipulated by the Council of Ministers' resolution No.956 of 30 December 2022, BelTA has learned. The rates of export customs duties on timber and woodworking products, which are exported from Belarus' territory to beyond the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union, will stay in effect till 31 December 2023. The export duty on exporting rough logs...