MOGILEV, 10 July (BelTA) – We must make the most of the current high demand for a variety of domestic products, including elevators, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a conversation with employees of the Mogilev-based elevator manufacturer Mogilevliftmash, BelTA has learned.
"The demand for your products is great. And not only yours," the head of state said.
He noted that the leadership of Russia, the heads of the regions often talk about the demand for Belarusian products. "Recently we have heard from our elder brother, as I jokingly call them: ‘You did a good hob by preserving this or that enterprise’…" Although, the president noted, it was not an easy job to preserve enterprises and teams after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The two countries are working together on import substitution, for example, in microelectronics. But the countries also need less high-tech goods, like buses or elevators.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said that he came to see if the company was able to boost the output. According to him, it is important to work together in the public interest. If there are some other underutilized enterprises near Mogilevliftmash (and there are some), then it makes sense to place some manufacturing operations there and start making necessary components. "Your line of business suggests continuous competition. This is how things are. Therefore, the governor and I have agreed to motive our top executive to use a state approach more," the head of state stressed.
"This is our chance. The window of opportunity is open. It will not last forever," the president said speaking about the current high demand for a variety of products as western competitors have left the market.
The head of state spoke about this as he toured the production facilities at Mogilevliftmash: "Why did I come to Mogilevliftmash (before that to BelAZ, MAZ)? The demand is great now. It is necessary to satisfy the market. Therefore, I have a question: why don't we produce more as the demand is so high? If you lack capacities at Mogilevliftmash, you need to use others, if necessary," the Belarusian leader said.
"It is important we do not miss the moment, win over the market. If today the demand is for example 16,000 units and the plant can produce 14,000, well, we need to find an opportunity to make 2,000 more. Let the plant make the main parts, and Strommashina, for example, do some auxiliary jobs. Thus, we will be able to occupy the market and help our enterprises operate at their full capacities," the head of state gave an example.
But discipline must be cast-iron, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
"Lack of discipline is a failure. Failure is war. It all starts with economy," he stressed.