OREANDA-NEWS. January 15, 2007. Belarus’ road industry has not established an enabling environment for attracting investors and developing motorways services, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky said on January 15 during a session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers focusing on the course of implementing the programme “Roads of Belarus”, reported the Official website www.government.by.

The Prime Minister criticised the Ministry of Transport and Communications for the performance of the tasks concerning the development of motorway services. “We should create a relevant micro and macromedia to attract investors. A line of investors putting forward various proposals should stand in the ministry. You should do your job so that people could see its results,” the head of the Belarusian Government underlined.

Sergei Sidorsky urged top officials of the Ministry of Transport and Communications to create “an economy of the sector, to earn money and not to ask for it from the budget.”

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Belarus’ Government to inject almost Br1.8 trillion into development of Belarusian roads in 2008.

In 2008 the Belarusian Government will allocate Br1.772 trillion for the development of road facilities, including Br318 billion – for the thorough repairs and servicing of road M1 Brest-Moscow. This financing will make up 64% of that volume stipulated in the programme “Roads of Belarus” for 2006-2015, Minister of Transport and Communications of Belarus Vladimir Sosnovsky said on January 15 at a session of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers of Belarus.

According to the minister, one more loan worth of Br136 billion should be raised to cover the deficit of financing the programme. This offer is being coordinated with the local authorities at the moment. Such method of financing will help maintain the republican and local roads in 2008. The minister also informed about the necessity to fulfil the tasks stipulated in the programmes for 2006 and 2007.

In 2006 the Republican Road Fund allocated Br1,5 trillion (90,6% of the necessary sum) to finance the programme. In 2007 the fund allocated Br1.6 trillion for this purpose including a Br117 billion loan.