MOGILEV, 21 March (BelTA) – Belarus will continue to support honest investors, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said during the visit to Kronospan OSB in Mogilev on 21 March, BelTA has learned.
On the example of the enterprise, the head of state said that investors can use various preferences in Belarus. In particular, when the company imported German equipment to Belarus, it did not pay import duties and the value added tax. Such preferences made up about $100 million.
“If they work in an honest way just like your enterprise is doing, I promised that we will support them in any fields. Members of the government, ministers, and I analyze the situation and try to meet investors halfway,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
The President remarked that favorable conditions have been created for investors in Belarus. “I do not know what else to do to prove once again that favorable conditions have been created for investors here. We have stable society, Belarus is a calm and quiet country. Although our government can make certain mistakes (I can also make mistakes as I am human), it is not the worst government. We did not ruin the country. Security and stability rely on the activities of the government,” the head of state said.
Alexander Lukashenko added that there are no corruption problems in Belarus. One-off incidents are immediately detected and prevented. Foreign investors acknowledge that the situation is under control in the country and come to Belarus.
Besides, Belarus has such investor attractions as highly qualified personnel, high-quality and cheap raw materials. “If there are raw materials and workforce, investors will come. We will also agree on taxes if they come to Belarus. If the decreased taxes are too big for the investor at the beginning, we will come to an agreement. We often do it. Safety and calm are the main things,” the President is convinced.
The state is also ready to create necessary conditions for the development of small enterprises. “Today we will help you and reduce taxes, tomorrow you will hire 10-20 employees and offer good salaries. When you are a success, you will pay the same taxes as others,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
Head of Kronospan Group Peter Kaindl, in turn, said that the most favorable conditions have been created for the development of his enterprise in Belarus. Therefore, the company decided to boost the volume of investments. In accordance with the investment agreement, the company had to invest $150 million in production processes and create 150 jobs. However, in 2017 the volume of investments should exceed $1 billion. Besides, more than 1,000 jobs were created in 2010-2016.
According to the businessman, his company also suggested setting up a decorative paper factory in Shklov to the Belarusian government.
“Belarus has raw materials and highly qualified workers, the government creates ideal economic conditions. Belarus also has an ideal location for the organization of logistics. The stability in the country is also important,” Peter Kaindl stressed.
The President was informed about the development prospects of Kronospan enterprises in Belarus, promising and successful investment projects. During the working trip the head of state was also informed about the social and economic development of Mogilev Oblast, the performance of the free economic zone Mogilev, the beginning of the spring sowing campaign in the region.
After the visits to the abovementioned enterprises the head of state went to the village of Kopys where he inspected the progress in the agricultural experiment which had been discussed at the government conference in the autumn of 2016. Back then the participants of the meeting discussed the project to turn several agritowns into an export oriented high-tech holding association with a full cycle of production.
