Belarus economy grows 0.5 percent in January-April 2017

(Minsk, caoital city of Belarus)

MINSK, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Belarus' gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.5 percent year on year in the first four months of 2017, the National Statistical Committee of Belarus said on Wednesday.

The official statistics said in January-April 2017 the volume of industrial production and agricultural production grew 5.4 percent and 2.1 percent respectively compared with January-April 2016.

Compared with the same period of the previous year, investments in fixed assets fell 7 percent in January-April 2017.

The Belarusian government expects to increase its GDP by 0.2 percent in the first half of 2017 and by 1.7 percent at the end of the year.

In 2016, Belarus' GDP declined by 2.6 percent.