MINSK, 28 January (BelTA) – In his annual Address to Belarusian People and the National Assembly on 28 January Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko spoke about the pros and cons of having the Hi-Tech Park, BelTA has learned.
“IT people, self-employed entrepreneurs... I still don't know what to do with them. How could it end up this way? I nurtured these tech companies and supported self-employed entrepreneurship. What made them take to the streets?” the head of state said.
As for the IT sector, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he spoke in general terms, and his message mainly concerns those who operate in the Hi-Tech Park. “I created and fostered this park, appointed my aides there. Today, this HTP is a branch of large enterprises from the United States and other countries. I mean Google, Microsoft, and other tech giants that have their operations here.”
The president stated that in this way foreign special services had a sway over employees in the HTP. They provided financing on the legal basis and then gave the command to overthrow and destroy.
Nevertheless, Aleksandr Lukashenko admitted that with all the negative things, the HTP gave a very strong impetus to the development of the IT sector in the country. However, the president said he is beginning to wonder whether the park is doing more good or more harm to the country? In this regard, Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that he has not yet made any decisions and has not given any instructions. "I need time to understand the processes that are taking place in the Hi-Tech Park. We will not act rashly or violate the law," he assured.
The head of state hopes that the HTP might make a more significant contribution in terms of benefits for people and the state. In particular, the president wondered whether the time has come to put Belarusian IT specialists, those who work in the HTP, on an equal footing with those who work at enterprises, in organizations of the National Academy of Sciences. Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the National Academy of Sciences has its own breakthrough developments - from IT to finished products. The Belarusian heavy truck manufacturer BelAZ has recently unveiled its own unmanned vehicles.
