Business news

“Strict control over the production and sale of alcohol products is the main duty for the government. We cannot allow selling low-quality fake and counterfeited alcohol to Belarusian people,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

“As specialists say, the active policy of the government has almost ruined the industry. Excise duties increased prices. Alongside with counterfeited alcohol products this led to lower demand and budget losses,” the head of state said.

He also stressed: “Because of various corrupt practices such bribes, legalization of bribes by turning them into awards and bonuses, certain private organizations occupied about 35% of the market and unfairly squeezed state-owned organizations, including with the help of networks.”

The President emphasized that the dictatorship of networks is inadmissible. It has already reached the intolerable limit.

The head of state also focused on the problem of untimely payments for alcohol products.

“As I have already said, state-owned enterprises are being squeezed out. State-owned enterprises have to sell alcohol products at a discount of up to 40%, and, as I have already said, manufacturers often provide unreasonable bonuses and awards to retail networks,” Alexander Lukashenko noted.

The President asked the Trade Minister who is in charge of these issues to report on the situation in the industry.

The head of state also said that counterfeited products from Russia and other countries impose huge pressure on the country. “Why cannot the government protect the domestic market?” the President asked a reasonable question. He also said that specialists suggest toughening the responsibility for the delivery of counterfeited products to Belarus. For example, the state can forfeit transport vehicles used to deliver these products.