MINSK, 10 March (BelTA) – We need to build up efficient eastward logistics, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the government meeting to discuss the country’s economic performance in 2022 and to map out plans to address social and economic development tasks for 2023, BelTA has learned.
"Another important task for our open economy is the growth of exports. Objectively, we have not yet been able to fully compensate for all the losses. As I have been briefed about 80% has been redirected to the markets of friendly countries. So the situation is not dramatic. But! We must make up for everything that we lost last year this year," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Belarus has significantly increased trade with its main strategic partner - Russia. Deliveries in physical volumes have increased, trading has a high margin. "However, some issues still remain unresolved, for example, the transit of Belarusian timber products via Russia. But this is our export to third countries," the president said.
We need to address logistics issues, either via the EAEU or other channels, as quickly and efficiently as possible, the head of state set the task. He stressed that the success of the export strategy directly depends on the well-established transport work.
"In 2023, we need to focus on the development of transportation through seaports, building efficient transport and logistics chains in the eastern direction. We need new routes to expand trade. We need to further upgrade the transport infrastructure,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “We need to team up with our Russian colleagues and spur the work on the abolition of the permit-based system for all types of road transportation of goods and non-scheduled passenger transport. I instruct to ensure access of domestic companies to cabotage transportation in Russia in 2023. I did everything that was in the realm of my responsibilities. A few small steps are needed, and this problem will be solved."