Belarus to get $1.9bn from export duties on oil products in 2015

In 2015 Belarus’ budget will get about $1.9 billion in export customs duties on oil products, BelTA learned from Belarusian Finance Minister Vladimir Amarin at the expanded participation session of the Budget and Finance Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus on 8 December.

“In line with the agreement with Russia next year the budget will get export customs duties on oil products to the tune of $1.890 billion,” said the Minister.

Without export customs duties on oil products and special revenue sources resources of the state budget will reach Br214.5 trillion, 7.5% up from 2014. Revenues of the consolidated budget are expected to reach Br252.9 trillion.

As far as budget expenses are concerned, half of them will be social. Education and healthcare top the list and will receive more money. The share of education in the total spending will increase from 17.3% to 18.1% while the share of healthcare will increase from 14.2% to 14.8%. The budget will spend Br35.2 trillion on healthcare. The money will secure the operation of the state healthcare system, the stable operation of treatment and prevention institutions, and the availability of free medical services to the population. The budget will provide Br43 trillion to the education system. The money will secure the operation of about 8,000 education institutions, the implementation of government programs, and the maintenance of the physical infrastructure that the education process requires, explained Vladimir Amarin.

The budget bill is supposed to address a number of priorities such as the reduction of the external state debt by honoring commitments primarily using budget revenues, the preservation of the current level of budget spending on healthcare and education, and support for the modernization of the economy and export, stressed the Belarusian Finance Minister.