MINSK, 4 June (BelTA) – Municipal authorities have already granted aid to about 1,700 commercial entities amid the pandemic. Belarusian Economy Minister Aleksandr Chervyakov made the statement during a regular meeting with representatives of the business community, the ministry's press service told BelTA.
The official said: “As for provisions of Belarus president decree No.143 on supporting the economy, we see that municipal authorities work hard to implement it. So far the oblast administrations and the Minsk city administration have received over 4,000 applications from commercial entities for various kinds of support. Aid has already been granted to about 1,700 commercial entities. The other applications are still being reviewed.”
Aleksandr Chervyakov noted that a three-tier system to support the economy in pandemic conditions has been created in Belarus. The first tier is designed to reduce costs of self-employed businessmen and corporations by reducing their tax burden, reducing the size of rent for land and property, reducing the amounts payable for energy resources. It is also possible to adjust the amortization policy, recalculate currency exchange rate differences, and shift them to future periods.
The second tier supports employers as they pay salaries and welfare benefits to citizens. The third tier offers pinpoint support for enterprises affected by the pandemic. A special working group under the Council of Ministers has been established to review the relevant proposals of concerns, ministries, and municipal authorities every week.
The meeting focused on the implementation of presidential decree No.143 in the regions. Apart from that, participants of the meeting raised the matter of compensations for enterprises and the availability of subsidies for paying fees to the social security fund in line with presidential decree No.178 on temporary measures of state support for employers and individual categories of citizens. The meeting also touched upon the observance of pricing regulations by the private sector, retail and public catering industries, the protection of consumer rights, advertising, and other matters. Bills of health for tourists coming to Belarus and leaving the country were also mentioned.
