MINSK, 9 August (BelTA) – The government did not close borders and kept the economy working. It was the right thing to do during the pandemic. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during a meeting with representatives of the general public, experts, and mass media titled as the Big Conversation with the President on 9 August, BelTA has learned.
The head of state said: “We didn't go crazy and didn't introduce a curfew as they demanded of us, you remember it.”
“The only country and the only president, a dictator, who invited representatives of the World Health Organization and opened doors of all the healthcare institutions,” he stressed.
Aleksandr Lukashenko added that in 2020 the GDP decline was colossal in some countries, including in leading countries. “We lost 0.1% or 0.2% only in 2020 in comparison with the previous year if I am not mistaken. So, we had a really high level last year. We've gained about 3.5% on top of that since then. These are good figures for us. It is understandable that everything that is happening is largely determined by external factors and internal ones. Prices for food and for other commodities on foreign markets have increased considerably. Since we didn't shut down last year, we had enough merchandise to sell it at a high price. This is why we received a good result. Including a foreign trade surplus,” he stated.
The president mentioned a high demand for Belarusian products. “It was a blessing in disguise. People once again saw Belarusian products all over the world, particularly in the brotherly country of Russia, in the post-Soviet space. Particularly foodstuffs. We earned about $3 billion in H1 2021 and intend to earn more than $6 billion in 2021. But it is not the key Belarusian product. In other words, we had something to offer to the world during the shortage. And the world bought it. And naturally an increase in sales. The larger sales saved us considering the demand,” Aleksandr Lukashenko explained.
