OREANDA-NEWS. In H1 Belarus received more than $1 billion of foreign investments, or 20% up from the same period last year, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky said today during a session of the Council of Ministers, reported the Official website government.by.

In January-July the innovative development has gathered momentum. Over the period under review the breakthrough technologies were introduced; big manufactures were sent in service. Among them is a new pipe shop at Belarusian Steel Works. “Leading-edge technologies and modern manufactures are the basis for further development of the economy, the Prime Minister said. - Therefore this area should continue receiving attention in the work on meeting main forecast targets of socio-economic development.”

Sergei Sidorsky noted the high rate of housing construction and reminded the session of the target to built 4,7 million square meters of housing in 2007. It is important that the rate of housing construction should be high in small towns and rural areas in order to boost the agricultural production. According to him, “the agriculture industry gathers pace from month to month what gives hope that the industry will make up for the lagging and reach the targets.”

The Prime Minister noted the stable situation in the banking sphere. Inflation is under control. On the whole, in H1 social orientation in the economic development of the country remained in place despite the difficulties attributed to the energy price hike.