OREANDA-NEWS. On 9 September 2009 was announced, that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission has revised its original GDP forecast for 2009 in order to prepare the second review under the Stand-By Arrangement, Deputy Economy Minster Tatiana Starchenko told reporters.

“The mission has not completed its work yet, but it has been reported to have adjusted their forecasts towards ours,” Starchenko said.

The Belarusian Economy Ministry forecasts a 1%-2% GDP growth this year, while the IMF had projected a 3% contraction.

Asked whether the IMF mission agreed that Belarus’ GDP would grow 1%-2%, Starchenko said “It is close to that.”