28 August, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. The Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs proposes to reduce the tax burden on agricultural producers within the Customs Union. This was announced today at the regional scientific-practical seminar-meeting on the strategy for the development of the agro-industrial complex of the Vitebsk region until 2015 by the First Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Foodstuffs of Belarus, Nadezhda Kotkovets, as reported by a BELTA correspondent. The Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs is conducting negotiations within the framework of the CU Commission to equalise the tax burden on agricultural producers in the participating countries. For Belarusian producers, it is important to have taxes comparable to those in the Russian Federation. For example, deductions to the Social Protection Fund of the Population in Belarus amount to 31%, while in the Russian Federation they are 10.8%. "This concerns a sufficient volume of funds, which will be a significant support for agricultural enterprises," noted Nadezhda Kotkovets. Improving the financial condition of agricultural enterprises is a key focus for the ministry. "The Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs is working in all areas to increase the profitability of agricultural enterprises, which will allow them to settle their existing debts, loan and credit arrears, and begin building a normal economy for the farms, paying decent wages," emphasised the First Deputy Minister. In addition to increasing procurement prices for raw materials and reducing tax payments, the Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs is working on the possibility of restructuring the debts of agricultural producers. -0-

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