SHKLOV DISTRICT, 24 April (BelTA) – There are no reasons for increasing prices in Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko told the media during the National Clean-up Day in Belarus on 21 April, BelTA has learned.
According to the head of state, a decision has been made not to increase utility costs by more than $5 a year. “The prices in the utilities sector are regulated by the government,” the president said.
Alexander Lukashenko added that there are no reasons to increase prices for food products, as the major part of food is produced in Belarus. Imported food products make a small percentage. “There is a competition between the companies that supply food products to Belarus. They will not increase prices, otherwise they will lose the market,” the Belarusian leader said.
In his words, Belarus, being a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), in fact works under the World Trade Organization standards, taking into account the WTO membership of the two EAEU member states. “As soon as we increase prices for some groups of products, these goods will start coming in from other countries,” the president said.
Alexander Lukashenko said that price rises are possible only in some force-majeure circumstances dictated from outside. For example, it can be a sharp decline on the markets of the major partner countries or a worsening situation on world markets due to some military actions. The head of state is confident that this will not happen. “We will do our best to protect the people from the impact of the external conflicts,” the president said.
Alexander Lukashenko added that for the producer the increase in prices is a source of additional income. “In the previous years when we were regulating prices for meat, milk and other products, this money went to farmers,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
