MINSK, 8 October (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has supported a proposal on equipment leasing for the development of small consumer cooperation societies. He made the statement at the general meeting of the Belarusian National Union of Consumer Societies Belkoopsoyuz on 8 October, BelTA informs.
“A good question on equipment leasing was raised here. It should be done. This is my instruction to the members of the government who are attending this meeting. I am doing that not because I want people here to like me. It will not cost a lot. This is small equipment. You will not import this equipment. You must order it here. You will organize the centralized import of only minor parts which we cannot make here quickly. Equipment leasing is a good idea,” the Belarusian leader said.
As an example, Aleksandr Lukashenko cited a small bakery in Svisloch which he visited in 2021. “This is a very small company. Such companies need independence and our support,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.
BelTA reported earlier that a corresponding proposal was made by Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the Grodno Oblast Consumer Society Yelena Chikova. In her words, small industrial enterprises in small towns and villages need to replace obsolete energy-consuming equipment.
Cooperators are no longer monopolists in trade. Competition plays a big role in this segment, she said. “But we have found our niche. One thing I am absolutely sure about: we are in the vanguard of social security, we promptly respond to people's demands. Today we are doing our best to meet people's needs and to improve the financial performance of organizations.”
However, industrial enterprises in small populated areas have to deal with certain problems. The equipment they use to make their products is energy-consuming.
“If small enterprises like the bakery in Svisloch had leasing benefits, they would have a chance to update their equipment and create more favorable conditions for workers,” Yelena Chikova said.
