Lukashenko against raising prices for dairy products
During Aleksandr Lukashenko’s visit to Minsk Dairy Plant No. 1, a topic of increasing the profitability of dairy enterprises was discussed. The Chairman of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee, Aleksandr Turchin, proposed to raise prices for certain items of whole milk products. As he noted, this unpopular measure will make it possible to reach a different level of companies’ profitability.
“We do not want to profit off, but some products should produce a different level of profitability,” Mr. Turchin said, but the Head of State objected, “Are you proposing to raise prices for whole-milk products? People mostly buy milk and kefir. You are an economist. What will we do with pensioners? Do we have money to raise their pensions? What can I say… We cannot count on price increases. Let’s increase milk yield. The profitability will then be higher.”
The President stressed that the state has social obligations, and the profitability of enterprises should primarily be increased through efficient production, and not by raising prices.
