The two Houses of the National Assembly have held a joint session today. According to First Deputy Prime Minister Vasily Matyushevsky, the programme of innovative development for the next five years will be submitted for approval before 1 July. Work on the completion of about 20 government programmes is nearly over and the list has obtained approval from the President. It was also stressed that the Belarusian Government expects to reach economic growth in the second half of the year.State support will be provided to companies only on condition of cost reduction and cost optimisation. Activities to forestall bankruptcy are currently being implemented while a corresponding draft law is being harmonised.
