MINSK, 20 July (BelTA) – Every banker should be personally responsible for the money they raise on foreign markets and the terms of borrowing, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with top officials of the country's central bank and made personnel decisions on 20 July, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that investment will be a priority in the next five-year period. In this regard, he called on the National Bank to think of making up for the lack of long-term and cheap money for financing investment projects, in particular those with the payback period of 7-10 years, like projects in mechanical engineering and petrochemical industry.
“You see that a number of nations, including Russians, have revised downward external limits for Belarusian banks,” the president said.
Therefore, the most important task for the National Bank is to find alternative sources of financing (preferably, long-term external resources) for Belarusian banks. “The same tasks (regarding key performance indicators) should be given to all bank executives. They should be held responsible for the work they do. This primarily refers to the Aide to the President. They should apply the same working model as the government: everyone is responsible personally for exporting and earning foreign currency for the country. Each banker should be personally responsible as to what kind of money they raise on external markets and on what best terms. You cannot do it from the office of the National Bank. You should have extensive contacts, not only with Russians, but also with Europe, America, China and other places, in order to raise financial resources,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
