Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 12 December (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko gave an instruction to preserve a social focus in the work of Belarusbank. He made the statement during the report of Chairman of the Board of OAO Belarusbank Viktor Ananich on 12 December, BelTA informs.

“Frankly speaking, we have already discussed the issues concerning the leading Belarusian bank several times. I hope that today you will tell me what to do to turn Belarusbank into a truly major bank in our state,” the president said at the beginning of the meeting.

He asked about the situation in the bank and in the banking sector in general. “Perhaps, you will inform me through the prism of Belarusbank about the current situation in the banking sector in general at the level of commercial banks,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

Viktor Ananich reported on the performance of the bank this year, special attention was drawn to the financing of SMEs. The institution has fulfilled all operation security regulations envisaged by the National Bank. “In general, the head of state praised the results of our work this year,” the chairman of the board of Belarusbank told reporters.

The report also focused on the development strategy of Belarusbank in 2018-2020. Alexander Lukashenko approved it and gave a number of instructions, including the one to preserve a social focus in work.

Within three years Belarusbank plans to raise the efficiency of work and ensure the return on equity at the level exceeding 11%, what is three times higher than the current level. Plans have been made to increase the volume of loans issued to legal entities and organizations 1.5 times, and the loans issued to individuals 1.8 times. Such important social aspects as provision of housing loans, support of small and medium-sized businesses will be developed.

On the whole, the development strategy is aimed at enhancing the role of the bank in the banking system and the Belarusian economy in general. Its ideology relies on efforts to ensure higher efficiency, return on equity, re-engineering of business processes.