OREANDA-NEWS. March 15, 2011. Belarus’ Finance Ministry has posted a republican budget surplus of 199 billion Belarusian rubles (Br), or 1.7% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in January 2011, an official with the Finance Ministry told stated on Friday.

The republican budget indicates spending and revenues of the central administration, whereas the consolidated budget also includes local budgets.

Republican budget revenues amounted to 2.3 trillion rubles in January, or 7% of the target for the whole year.

Revenues from foreign economic activities amounted to 511.5 billion rubles, 7% of the target for the year, from the profit tax 243.6 billion rubles, 10.5% of the target, from the value-added tax 901.9 billion rubles, 6.7% of the target.

Republican budget expenditures reached 2.1 trillion rubles, 5.4% of the target for 2011.

Expenditures on welfare, science, culture, healthcare, mass media, sports, education, etc. amounted to 585.7 billion rubles, 6.6% of the target for 2011, national economy expenditures were at 239.8 billion rubles, 3.3% of the target, and general state expenditures at 924 billion rubles, 5.3% of the target.

Budget arrears amounted to 69.4 billion rubles as of February 1, 2011, up by 37.4 billion rubles from January 1, 2011.

Republican budget revenues are projected at 33.611 trillion rubles, and expenditures at 39.784 trillion rubles. Budget deficit had been expected at or below 6.173 trillion rubles.