MINSK, 17 February (BelTA) - Belarus will create a level playing field for all those who work for the benefit of the people, operate honestly and according to the law, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with representatives of private enterprises on 17 February, BelTA has learned.
According to Belarusian First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov, private business has actively joined the president's initiative One District-One Project and has been implementing more than half of the regional projects. “Small and medium-sized businesses account for 116 out of 208 projects being implemented in the regions. They also account for 40% of investment in these projects and 65%, or almost 7,000, of the total number of new jobs,” the first deputy prime minister said.
“More than half of private enterprises are set up here. You use the national budget to help state-owned enterprises. What about private enterprises?” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“We help everyone. The conditions are equal here. There is one financial product for everyone (8-year loans at 8% per annum),” Nikolai Snopkov said.
“I mentioned specifically this point so that entrepreneurs, businessmen understand that if the government decides on a program like One District-One Project, we put everyone - both private and state-owned enterprises - in the same conditions,” the president said. “If you are satisfied with such conditions, join in and operate. If not, decide for yourself. You do not need to compare yourselves with state-owned enterprises. They sometimes face such requirements you have never thought of. You need to understand the main thing: there are equal conditions for everyone who work for the state, for the people, who operate honestly, according to the law and pay taxes.”
“This is not just about a level playing field. We will support the private sector. This is my personal attitude to it. Those who work honestly will get overall support. Anyone putting a spoke in your wheel will be punished. Just tell me if you have any problems, but you yourselves must be as transparent as glass. That is the only thing I ask of you. No one will take your business away, no one will use you, no one will divide anything. I guarantee you that. However, the public interest must always come first. That is the way I am, but that is not the point here. The point is that the country is currently in such a situation that we can survive only by standing together and acting honestly,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said that he had recently received a letter from the government regarding the development of Wildberries marketplace in Belarus.
“It is ready to expand and sell here. The question is to sell what. We are aiming for import substitution. Our market is small, but we would like to occupy this market with our products. If that is the case, you are welcome. One thing, however, must be taken into account. I do not want convenience stores, small stores to shut down. I do not want there to be a monopoly of big store chains. I do not want to see an uneven playing field. However, if someone get modernized and advance, just like Wildberries is doing (and I just think that all trade will soon move to the internet), we will support such enterprises. Any enterprise, however, should work for Belarus, for the state. Then I will have no complaints,” the Belarusian leader said.
Follow us on:
