Belarusian GDP grows 3.1% in Jan, industrial output edges up 0.4%
MINSK. Feb 14 (Interfax) - Belarusian GDP grew 3.1% in real terms in January 2013 and measured Br41.648 trillion in nominal terms, the National Statistics Committee reported.
Industrial production edged up in constant prices by 0.4% in January, to Br51.018 trillion. Agricultural production grew 3.9% and measured Br4.588 trillion.
The country's president has approved a GDP growth target of 8.5% for 2013. The IMF, however, believes the Belarusian economy only has the potential to grow by up to 3.4% in 2013.
Economics Minister Nikolai Snopkov earlier forecast dramatic GDP growth of 8-9% in the first quarter of 2013. "There will be a positive growth trend. We estimate GDP growth in the first quarter inside of 8-9%," Snopkov told Interfax in December 2012.
The country's real GDP grew 1.5% year-on-year in 2012 and measured Br527.385 trillion.
The official exchange rate for February 14 is Br8,650/$1.