MINSK, 26 March (BelTA) – In January-February 2012 Belarus received $140.5 million in net foreign direct investments (without taking into account debts to direct investors for goods and services), representatives of the Economy Ministry told BelTA as they commented on the fulfillment of the national social and economic development forecast in the two months of 2012. In 2012 Belarus is expected to attract $1.2 billion in net FDI, therefore 11.7% of the goal has been achieved. The FDI were mainly channeled into trade, repair of automobiles, household goods and personal goods ($26.6 million, 25.8% of the annual target), production of machines and equipment ($17 million, 25%), woodworking and manufacturing of timber products ($15.8 million, 27.2%), communications ($14.2 million, 38.4%), food production, including tobacco and beverages ($12.7 million, 42.3% of the goal assigned to Belgospischeprom concern), production of electrical, electronic and optical equipment ($10.2 million, 31.9%). In January 2012 Belarus had a foreign trade surplus of $126.1 million. It was mainly fuelled by a considerable reduction of the deficit of the foreign trade in intermediate goods (energy resources, raw materials, components). Thanks to the current situation around the export of oil and oil products the ratio of merchandise export and the industrial output as a whole stood at 58.9%. In January 2012 GDP energy intensity rose by 14.9% in comparison with January 2012 while it was expected to be reduced by 3-4%. The situation is attributed to a 900% increase in fuel import that has been used to make non-fuel products, said the source.

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