FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805

consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Michael KOZAK

embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83

FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853

Flag description: red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal
band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on
the hoist side bears the Belarusian national ornament in red

Belarus Economy

Economy - overview: Belarus has seen little structural reform since
1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of
"market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO
reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange
rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management
of private enterprise. In addition to the burdens imposed by
extremely high inflation, businesses have been subject to pressure
on the part of central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary
changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, and
retroactive application of new business regulations prohibiting
practices that had been legal. Further economic problems are two
consecutive bad harvests, 1998-99, and persistent trade deficits.
Close relations with Russia, possibly leading to reunion, color the
pattern of economic developments. For the time being, Belarus
remains self-isolated from the West and its open-market economies.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $78.8 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13%

industry: 46%

services: 41% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line: 22% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%:
4.9%

highest 10%: 19.4% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 200% (2000 est.)

Labor force: 4.8 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation: industry and construction NA%,
agriculture and forestry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate: 2.1% officially registered unemployed (December
2000); large number of underemployed workers

Budget: revenues: $4 billion

expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $180
million (1997 est.)

Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earth
movers, motorcycles, television sets, chemical