Belarus maintains high economic growth rates, according to the macroeconomic review of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), BelTA has learned.
2024
“The Belarusian economy maintained high growth rates due to strong performance in industry, construction and trade. Domestic demand remains the key driver of economic activity,” the EDB said.
In 2024 the economy of Belarus expanded by 4% following a 3.9% increase in 2023. The key driver was industry, which showed plus 5.4%, secured about 1.4% of GDP growth. High demand from Russia is the main factor behind the increase in the Belarusian industrial output. Trade and construction played a significant role in the expansion of economic activity, providing about 0.8% and 0.5% of GDP growth, respectively. Growth in IT restored with value added in the information and communication sector going up 1.8%.
Consumer demand has become an important factor in strengthening the economy in 2024. High growth of real incomes in the context of rising wages was the key factor behind the increase in consumption. High credit activity of the population also supported the expansion of domestic demand. Retail trade grew 11.8% in 2024, largely due to non-food trade (plus 17.6%), reflecting higher levels of prosperity. Public catering turnover increased by 10.6% and paid services went up 10%.
“Investment activity continued to expand. The growth of capital investment was facilitated by government measures, including reduced taxes on imported equipment, improvements introduced to investment legislation. Capital investment in 2024 grew 8%. Enterprises actively invested their own funds and attracted loans to expand production,” the EDB said.
Real wages rose 13% in 2024 after going up by 11.6% in 2023. The 2024 unemployment rate fell by 0.5% to a historic-low 3%.
Inflation slowed to 5.2% in December 2024, down from 5.8% in December 2023 (with the National Bank's target of no higher than 6%). “Thanks to moderate price growth during 2023-2024, inflation expectations have decreased, which will contribute to further disinflation process in the current year,” the EDB said.
Early 2025
“Belarus' GDP grew by 3.7% in January 2025 mainly due to the sectors focused on consumer demand and construction. Inflation is near the target level of the National Bank,” the EDB said. Retail trade in January ramped up by 12.2%, the volume of contracting works - by 10.3%.
Wages keep growing in early 2025. In January, wages edged up by 13.5% through an increased base rate of labor remuneration and expanded allowances for certain categories of budgetary employees. Given the forthcoming increase in labor remuneration in the budget sector, EDB analysts expect further growth of wages.
Gold and foreign exchange reserves of Belarus reached a five-year high and continued to grow, increasing by $795.1 million in 2024 and reaching $8.9 billion at the beginning of 2025. The main factor was the appreciation of gold - its price rose by 25.5% last year. In January 2025, gold and forex reserves increased by another $410.6 million, reaching $9.3 billion. This is their highest level in the past five years.
According to the review, in early 2025, despite global challenges, the economies within the EDB's area of operations demonstrate strong growth based on domestic demand, investment activity and the development of key industries. In 2024, the total GDP of the EDB's member countries grew by 4.3%, maintaining the record-high level of the previous year.
Answer:
Dear Shivendu Paul and Metali Listeners' Club,
dthank you for your comment! We'll send you some of our souvenirs ASAP.
Stay tuned and 73,
RBI
Hallo Radio Belarus,
ja der Dieter Leupold ist jetzt auch hier im Gästebuch vertreten... Super, bald sind wir alle zusammen hier im "Belarus Hörerclub", Dieter könnte 1.Vorsitzender werden und Jana und Elena Ehrernmitglieder, Helmut Matt Schriftführer, Alfred Albrecht Beisitzer und ich mache Hausmeister:-) Lutz Winkler wie fit bist Du bereits wieder, für Dich finden wir auch eine nette Aufgabe:-) Beste Grüße und ein schönes Wochenende.
Dietmar
Answer:
Lieber Dietmar,
das stimmt, für alle finden wir im Hörerklub eine Aufgabe!:)
Liebe Grüße und einen guten Start in die Woche!
I recently learned my surname is not Polish, but Belarusian. I heard you on shortwave in the past and am so happy to listen online in English. We hear nothing about Belarus here in the US so I am so glad to learn about your country. Keep on broadcasting in English. I also joined the Hoererklub on Facebook as I can understand German. If you have information or a station pennant, I will very much appreciate it.
Sheryl Paszkiewicz, 1015 Green St, Manitowoc WI 54220 USA
Answer:
Dear Sheryl, thank you very much for listening to us! We'll send you some of our souvenirs as soon as we can. By the way, if you're interested, you can participate in our "The Old Country's Loving Call" project and send a greeting to Belarus. You can find more detailed information at http://www.radiobelarus.by/en/content/hukaje_eng
Also, in case you like sports, here's the link to an international competition of ours "My Greetings to 2nd European Games" http://www.radiobelarus.by/en/content/games_eng
73 from the entire staff of RBI! Прывiтанне з Малой Радiзмы :)
Hello from Birmingham United Kingdom!
My name is Michael.
I really enjoyed listening to your program on the Hotbird satellite 13e. I very much love listening to your news and current affairs.
Ask you to send me a small gifts. I hope you guys are all good.
Lots of love from UK
Especially enjoying learning about Belarus. History and culture
Michael Rogers
Flat 2 463 City road Birmingham
B17 8LG
United Kingdom
Answer:
Michael,
thank you very much for listening to us! We're glad that you enjoy our programs. We'll send you some of our souvenirs as soon as we can. Best regards and stay tuned!
Hello. I am a new listener to your English service. I listen on the Radio 1 News app. I enjoyed listening to the news. Do you have any information on shortwave broadcasts you can send me?
Thank you,
Joe Cosimo
23 Ivy Ln, Dupont, PA 18641 U.S.A.
Answer:
Dear Joe, thank you for listening to Radio Belarus International! We're glad that you enjoyed our news. RBI broadcasts on shortwave only in German on 6005 and 3985 kHz. News and programs in English are available via our website and satellites. We'll also send you a postcard and a small souvenir as soon as we can. 73!
Hello,
My name is Younes Lazazi, I am from Algeria.
I am very happy that radio Belarus has started broadcasting in Arabic.
I would like to receive stickers and printed matter of the station and the Arabic and french services if possible.
My address:
Monsieur Younes Lazazi 14 rue Maza Boualem El-Harrach 16009 Alger Algérie
Thank you.
Answer:
Dear Younes Lazazi,
we're happy that you like our boradcasts. We'll send you some of our printed materials via mail in the nearest future. 73!
Dear English Service Radio Belarus,
Greetings to all staff and listeners of English Service of Radio Belarus. We listen your webcast program. Your program quality is very nice. Your website is colorful & documented. We liked your programs, News, and Current Affairs Program. We are interested about Culture, life style of Belarusian people, historical places, Tourist attraction and destination of Belarus.
Please send some program schedule, sticker, view card, Promotional items of Radio Belarus for our club members and students.
We are waiting for your reply.
With best wishes,
SHIVENDU PAUL
President
Metali Listeners' Club
India
Answer:
Dear Shivendu Paul,
thank you very much for listening to us! Your club is among our most dedicated listeners. We will send you some of our promotional products as soon as possible. 73!
Hello!
Did the arabic programmes start? I don't see them on your Internetcast schedule page. Thanks!
Answer:
Hello! The Arabic programmes have been on air since October, every Monday. You can see the schedule and listen to them on our Arabic page http://radiobelarus.by/ar
FM transmitters and frequencies:
Rakitnitsa - 106.2 MHz
Hrodna - 95.7 MHz
Svislach - 104.4 MHz
Heraniony - 99.9 MHz
Braslau - 106.6 MHz
Miadzel - 102.0 MHz
Satellite broadcasting:
see satellite parameters here
