The Belarussian government is planning to attract $1.9 billin-$2 billion in foreign investment to the national economy in 2006, including bank loans, the country's Economy Ministry told Interfax.

Total foreign investment, including foreign bank loans, was $1.8 billion in 2005. Thus, foreign investment should grow by 5.5%-11.1% in 2006.

Fixed capital foreign investment is expected to grow 25.6% to $219 million in 2006.

A total of $295 million was expected in fixed capital foreign investment in 2005, however the actual amount was $174.4 million, including foreign loans, which is 5% less than in 2004.

The Belarussian government plans to bring total fixed capital investment to at least $7.9 billion in 2006 amid a planned growth in factory gate prices of 13%-14% from the previous year.

Total direct foreign investment per capita was about $200 over the past several years, which was ten times lower than in Central and Eastern Europe, according to experts at the Economy Ministry's Scientific and Research Economic Institute. Net inflow of foreign investment compared to GDP was less than 1% over the past few years.