Lukashenko: there will be a different country if enterprises hold out in 2022 and 2023
Belarusian enterprises have done much in relation to import substitution under the conditions of sanctions
The President stated this at today’s meeting with Belshina’s employees in Bobruisk. Speaking of the goals of his visit, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, “The situation in the world is not simple, but I do not want to scare anyone. Meanwhile, when I speak of difficulties, the Governor says: ‘Thanks God, we have such a situation’. As he notes, we have at least begun to think more of how to produce domestically. Of course, import substitution is the most burning issue for us now. When Russia – and we at the same time – were pressed upon, this situation forced us to think over and get rid of imports.”
According to the President, much has already been done, but the issue needs to be approached pragmatically. It is necessary to produce only what will pay for itself. “Of course, we will not grow Vietnamese rubber here, but – fortunately – we liaise well with our friends from Vietnam,” he noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarusian enterprises are also actively working in the markets of Russia, China, Indonesia, India, and elsewhere. Belarusian products enjoy a great demand, and this refers to tires as well. “You have no time to meet global demand, primarily in Russia,” the President addressed Belshina’s employees. “All have addressed you, standing in line. Therefore, we must survive. Everyone should do their own job. We must win through. In a year or two, the situation will be completely different. Now there is a redistribution of the world.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that he had warned about this even before the pandemic. Mass shutdown of production facilities around the world, lockdowns and quarantine led to the situation when ‘Dollars began to be printed in trillions’. “Inflation is extremely high everywhere, and it is naturally being imported to us. If metal and rubber have become more expensive outside the country, then products which use them will also become more expensive in our country. Therefore, external inflation has affected us. However, we are stubborn, we are trying to restrain these prices as much as possible, because it is also impossible to freeze them. If we freeze the prices of your tires, then Belshina will stop tomorrow. At the same time, we will not allow anyone to profit from the situation: neither private companies, nor state-run enterprises,” the President noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that people also need to be active, “If you display activity, then we will help.”
The Head of State added that the state plans to focus more on development of such large cities as Bobruisk and smaller ones in the future, “It is necessary to create production facilities there and attract personnel, so that people from all over the country do not flood into Minsk. We will encourage builders and managers to build locally, providing certain benefits to them.”
The Head of State thanked Belshina’s employees for not leaving the enterprise in difficult times, “If you grit the teeth and hold out throughout this year and 2023, if we all hold out – then there will be a different country. I guarantee you that.”
