Opinions & Interviews

Call to build flexible economy in Belarus

MINSK, 17 March (BelTA) – The key issues that hold back the possibilities of the Belarusian economy are addressed too slowly, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a government meeting held on 17 March to discuss the results of the country’s social and economic development in 2019 and review the achievements of the five-year period, BelTA has learned.

“I am worried most about the fact that the key issues that restrain the opportunities of the economy are addressed is a very slow manner. I am afraid that everything is done pro forma. The national economy has not reached the necessary level of stability yet to resist any influence from outside, be it political moods, external or any other shocks,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

In his words, the government pays too much attention to the price and amount of oil the country is going to buy, to the exchange rate in the countries – trading partners, to the restrictions introduced for Belarus. “We are responding to any insignificant detail. It is not supposed to be like that. We must see it and take it into account. However, this does not need to be a guideline, the main trend in our activity, the main criteria for our actions. We are a small country with an open economy. We need be able to flexibly adapt to objective conditions in which the world around us lives and be able to work with everyone,” the president stressed.

This is the most difficult task that the government system faces, said Aleksandr Lukashenko. However, no tangible results have been achieved in the current five-year plan. “The traditional sectors of the economy did not yield the same results as last year. The share of all types of production in the gross domestic product is six times higher than that of the IT and communications companies. Their contribution to the overall growth of the economy, however, is almost equal,” stated the head of state.

The topic of foreign markets is a time-worn issue too, the president said. “I will not be talking about the exports failing in 2019, the import being on the rise, and the gross domestic product growing only thanks to the domestic demand. While the exports are a priority of the five-year plan, we are not even exploring new markets, we are losing our traditional ones. I would like the prime minister to report on the reasons for this and what is being done to remedy the situation. Today it is a matter of our survival. This is where everything comes from: oil prices, domestic prices and the Belarusian ruble exchange rate,” he said.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the financial state of real sector organizations requires special attention. However, possible solutions should not affect the budget, the head of state added. In his words, performance, primarily in the public sector, has not become more efficient. “This is a significant part of the economy, and decisive measures are needed to be its locomotive, not a heavy burden. The overwhelming majority of regions should have higher development rates so that our society does not have dividing lines in terms of income and quality of life,” the president stressed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko did not agree with the government's proposals on the main directions of Belarus’ social and economic development program through 2025. “I will tell you frankly: I did not see there any measures for accelerated development and achievement of the gross domestic product, as we defined it at about $100 billion. Everything that was proposed should have been done five years ago.  We will hold a separate meeting on this issue. This is not the subject of today's in-depth analysis,” he added.
 
The head of state asked the participants of the meeting not to theorize, but to voice specific shortcomings and achievements of the past year, to be self-critical and honest in admitting the shortcomings.

print version

make home page

add to bookmarks