MOGILEV, 11 May (BelTA) – In the current circumstances construction enterprises, private and state-run organizations must not resolve their problems at the expense of the general public. Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko made the statement during the government conference held at premises of the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee on 11 May to discuss problems of the civil engineering industry, BelTA has learned.
Roman Golovchenko said: “We are looking into the situation in the civil engineering industry, which is a key branch of the economy and determines the economic growth and the accomplishment of social tasks of the state to a large degree. This sphere is kind of an indicator of ongoing economic processes. Certain trends in this sphere cause concern. Today's conference has been prompted by a message from the Minsk City Executive Committee, which has put together a bunch of proposals meant to improve the state of affairs in the construction industry. To avoid making it look like a backstage discussion in the center, I've invited executives in charge of civil engineering from all the oblasts as well as heads of the largest construction groups to come here. We have to draw an objective picture and evaluate the situation evolving in your spheres of responsibility in order to make a balanced decision taking it into account.”
The falling volume of construction and installation work and contracted work across the country was mentioned as a key item on the agenda. Rising prices for raw materials and goods used in civil engineering were mentioned as an accompanying factor. “I wonder whether we should step up government oversight over prices for raw materials and materials used for projects, which are not publicly funded. We are not proponents of total price regulation. Nevertheless, in a period of complicated ongoing processes the government's regulatory interference seems necessary. It will help reduce opportunistic factors and speculative ones.”
According to Roman Golovchenko, Belarusian construction companies doubt whether they will be able to honor their contractual obligations due to the rising costs of construction and due to their financial state.
The prime minister also stressed that all the economic processes must be balanced. “I've already talked about it many times: many state-run and private companies try to exploit the situation in order to gain boom profit. Such attempts must be stopped. And if some regulatory impact on the part of the government is needed, it means we will go ahead with it. If we decide otherwise, it means we will act differently,” Roman Golovchenko stressed. “I'd like to caution that no one must exploit the moment and resolve their old problems, including those relating to ineffective business decisions, at the expense of the population and the real sector of the economy, which are your customers.”
Roman Golovchenko remarked that a number of proposals had been put forward by the civil engineering industry. Decisions are being worked out on some of them while other proposals still look rather debatable. “But the state of affairs in the civil engineering industry causes concerns. It is a fact. Today we are going to discuss what measures need to be taken in order to mend the situation,” he summarized.
