Lukashenko on pricing formula: so that prices do not jump, especially upwards
On January 14th, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko appointed Artur Karpovich, who previously worked as Counsellor of the Ufa Branch of the Belarusian Embassy (in Russia), as Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade (MART)
Addressing the new head of MART, Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded that we are now working out the pricing formula, according to which we will work ‘hopefully, for a very long time’, “There is no such experience in world practice. But I would like to emphasise once again that this is the task of the Government, not the Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Ministry. It should be worked out by the Government. If it is necessary to involve people from the President Administration – send them. If it is necessary to join those from the Trade Ministry (there are good specialists there) – do it. Work and develop. Specific proposals should be made in the near future. Your task is to study the experience of Soviet trade and do everything possible to ensure that there is an assortment of goods on the shelves and that prices in no case jump, especially upwards. You should see this at trade facilities, in shops, no matter what kind of property: state or private. Our marketers have already accepted that we will control private enterprises. We will control private companies and direct their work in the same way as we do with industrial enterprises. Therefore, there can be no hesitation here. They are all ‘state’ enterprises because they are located on the territory of our state and serve our population. There should be as few complaints as possible. They will always be there – trade has always been complained about. But there should be a trend to reduce these complaints. This has been the case recently.”
Addressing Artur Karlovich, the Head of State emphasised, “We must do our utmost to ensure that we still have a formula of fairness in pricing. It should not be that some founders, directors and bosses are walking around with their pockets full of money, while cashier-checkers, warehouse loaders or others are living a miserable existence. It shouldn’t be like this! It has to be fair. So go ahead. You are an experienced person who has seen a lot in life. Don’t wait for any instructions. If someone is interfering with your work, tell me.”
