Lukashenko: national protectionism persists in issues of access to public procurement
National protectionism still persists in the issues of access to public procurement in the EAEU market – as stated by President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko at today’s meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in an expanded format
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that the volume of public procurement in the EAEU countries makes almost $200bn, “In fact, the states – as buyers of goods, works, and services – fully control this market, as well as determine procurement policies and acquisition channels. If we really manage, then let's ensure mutual access at least where the products made in the EAEU can become an effective source of meeting state needs. However, national protectionism still persists in this area. In reality, the market is protected not from imports from third countries, which account for almost two thirds of public procurement in our Union, but from goods and services produced in the countries of our Union.”
The Belarusian leader is convinced that the issue of expanding mutual participation in public procurement requires an urgent solution, “This is because it is closely related to import substitution and technological sovereignty. By and large, this is our security and independence.”
