PINSK, 27 May (BelTA) – The strategy to guide the development of the Belarusian mechanical engineering industry will be determined soon. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement while talking to employees of the mechanical engineering company ZAO Amkodor-Pinsk on 27 May, BelTA has learned.
“We are preparing a major government conference at the level of the president in order to make strategic decisions. Specialists are now working on the program of the strategy for the mechanical engineering industry,” said Alexander Lukashenko.
According to the head of state, the government conference will sum up results of his visits to a number of industrial enterprises in Belarus and will produce concrete decisions. “But let me tell you the most important thing: our mechanical engineering industry will live, it will not be curtailed. We will go for advanced manufacturing just the way your enterprises do it [the holding company Amkodor]. We don't want to import components, assemble them here and be proud of it. We should fabricate everything on our own, at our own enterprises,” stressed the Belarusian leader.
Alexander Lukashenko reminded that in the past there were a lot of debates about whether Belarus should preserve and develop major industrial enterprises like MTZ, MAZ, BelAZ, and Amkodor. Opinions were voiced in favor of shutting down or selling these enterprises and focusing on some other kind of business. “We have preserved all of them, including Amkodor. Today it is not the enterprise it was in the past. It is a huge holding company that comprises about 20 enterprises with over 6,000 employees. Amkodor makes cutting-edge products that sell well on the global market,” stated the President.
“Belarus will retain its mechanical engineering industry. We are competitive. Nobody claims anymore that we cannot compete with Germany, Sweden or France. We can make things as well as they do. We have virtually learned how to sell things, too,” stressed the Belarusian leader.
According to Alexander Lukashenko, in the fight for customers Belarusian manufacturers enjoy certain advantages over foreign ones, in particular, due to lower prime costs in a number of factors. “If every one of us wisely approaches matters of manufacturing in our own respective positions — from blue-collar workers to the chairman of the board of directors — things will turn be good,” said the President. “We have no other way out. What can replace the mechanical engineering industry? It is necessary to develop what we know how to do. This is why we are resolute to bolster the mechanical engineering industry.”
Alexander Lukashenko said it is possible that a number of foreign investors may be interested in starting a manufacturing business in Belarus. “Including European and Chinese investors. There are wealthy individuals in the Russian Federation, too. They are welcome to work here and we invite them to work here. We are going to create Belarusian products. If they are willing to invest their money, they can go right ahead. We will work together. They can turn a profit and recoup their investments,” remarked the head of state.
