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MINSK, 19 September (BelTA) – It is planned to increase the number of crafts by 30%, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko supported a draft decree aimed at the further development of craftsmanship which was discussed at the working meeting with Belarus’ Economy Minister Vladimir Zinovsky on 19 September, BelTA informs.

The draft decree envisages expanding the list of materials which can be used in crafts and regulates other issues. Today craftsmen can sell their products in places determined by local authorities. In accordance with the draft decree, they will be able to sell their products in their workshops and deliver products to clients by mail. Craftsmen will be able to promote their products in the Internet.

The participants of the meeting also discussed the possibility to transfer unused or inefficiently used state-owned or municipal real estate assets in free use. In three years such property can be sold to craftsmen for one basic amount. Alexander Lukashenko remarked that balance is important here, it is inadmissible to squander state-owned property. “It is very important to use cautious approaches to privatization. In fact, this is the privatization of state-owned property,” the head of state said. “It is created by people, and we should be very careful here. However, I would like you to report on this draft decree to me, to speak about it in detail.”

Economy Minister Vladimir Zinovsky told reporters after the meeting that a decision not to include this norm in the draft decree on craftsmanship development was made. “The head of state stressed that such a norm exists in the legislation, and governors and minister should use it in a more serious way,” the minister said.

In general, according to Vladimir Zinovsky, the president supported the draft decree. “We believe that after the passing of the decree the number of craftsmen may double,” the minister said. At present there are about 23,500 craftsmen in Belarus.