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MINSK, 13 December (BelTA) – Belarus has ensured food security based on the new, predominantly domestic scientific technology, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko noted at the second Congress of Scientists of Belarus on 13 December, BelTA informs.

“We have not only become self-sufficient in this regard. We have become an export-oriented country (the share of exports of agricultural products and foodstuffs in merchandise exports amounted to 17.7% in 2016). For 10 years, agricultural production has expanded by 30%. This has been achieved thanks to the overhaul of the material and technical infrastructure, the application of advanced technologies of production and the latest scientific and technological developments,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

The president also praised the results of work of Belarusian scientists, physicians and pharmacists. In 2016 alone Belarus embedded in practice more than 250 new medical technologies in such important areas as cardiology, traumatology, oncology, maternal and child health. Belarus is among the world leaders in the field of transplantation.

Alexander Lukashenko believes that the scientific approaches applied in the domestic healthcare will undoubtedly have an impact on the demographic security. Since 2007 the infant mortality has been decreasing and the life expectancy has been rising in the country.

The president also noted that the share of locally-produced medicines on the domestic market reached more than 56% in value terms. Today the share of exports accounts for 27% in the total production of drugs. A few years ago the share of domestic drugs was less than 20%.