MINSK, 15 January (BelTA) - A state investment program should not earmark a single kopeck on things we can do without, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he received a report on the 2025 state investment program on 15 January, BelTA has learned.
“Not a single kopeck should be spent on things we can do without. All sorts of offices, buildings and so on… We have enough of them. They are state-owned. They have been built for the Interior Affairs Ministry, civil servants and so on,” said the head of state.
The president emphasized that careful spending is the key principle to be followed.
In this regard, the head of state assigned a special role to the State Control Committee. “Your main mission is the oversight over money, budget,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he addressed Vasily Gerasimov, chairman of the State Control Committee. “This is where you should look at and look into. And exercise control over the government, ministers, all those who use this money.”
The president pointed out one of the most important requirements for the state investment program: its efficiency for the economy. The total amount of investments from the national and regional budgets in various areas is planned at Br6.5 billion (including Br2.2 billion in the projects of the state investment program). "It is a lot of money. If we invest this money efficiently, we will yield good results," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed. "Every invested ruble should maximize returns."
The president decided to hold a broader meeting before signing the relevant decree to discuss this issue in detail and to examine the state investment program comprehensively. "I will not sign it immediately without reviewing it once again with ministers, deputy prime ministers, representatives of the governor's corps, the finance minister who are extremely involved in this matter," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
"First of all, I am calling a meeting. But the President Administration (I have already told Dmitry Nikolaevich [Krutoi]) invited only three or four people to discuss the program," the president explained. "What will I discuss without Aleksandr Genrikhovich [Turchin] or without the mayor of Minsk, who consume the lion's share of the investment program? What will I discuss without deputy prime ministers? Will Golovchenko or Chebotar tell me about the program? There must be an alternative view."
“Not a single kopeck should be spent on things we can do without. All sorts of offices, buildings and so on… We have enough of them. They are state-owned. They have been built for the Interior Affairs Ministry, civil servants and so on,” said the head of state.
The president emphasized that careful spending is the key principle to be followed.
In this regard, the head of state assigned a special role to the State Control Committee. “Your main mission is the oversight over money, budget,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he addressed Vasily Gerasimov, chairman of the State Control Committee. “This is where you should look at and look into. And exercise control over the government, ministers, all those who use this money.”
The president pointed out one of the most important requirements for the state investment program: its efficiency for the economy. The total amount of investments from the national and regional budgets in various areas is planned at Br6.5 billion (including Br2.2 billion in the projects of the state investment program). "It is a lot of money. If we invest this money efficiently, we will yield good results," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed. "Every invested ruble should maximize returns."
The president decided to hold a broader meeting before signing the relevant decree to discuss this issue in detail and to examine the state investment program comprehensively. "I will not sign it immediately without reviewing it once again with ministers, deputy prime ministers, representatives of the governor's corps, the finance minister who are extremely involved in this matter," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
"First of all, I am calling a meeting. But the President Administration (I have already told Dmitry Nikolaevich [Krutoi]) invited only three or four people to discuss the program," the president explained. "What will I discuss without Aleksandr Genrikhovich [Turchin] or without the mayor of Minsk, who consume the lion's share of the investment program? What will I discuss without deputy prime ministers? Will Golovchenko or Chebotar tell me about the program? There must be an alternative view."
The head of state once again emphasized the unacceptability of careless spending. "You cannot waste money!" he said adding that nowadays some officials live by the following principle: if I do not take money out of the state budget, others will do it. Such practices should certainly be eliminated.
“The prime minister and the finance minister treat it carelessly. This is why I have not signed this investment program right now. I believe we should take a closer look at it and deal with it wisely," the president stated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized the importance of focusing financing on projects and industries that can give a quick profit. He cited agriculture, in particular, milk production, as an example. "If we have no problems with selling milk and dairy products, perhaps we should build dairy shops and farms to sell this milk?" the president suggested.
"We need to delve deeper into this issue. We need to consider how we can get revenues, how we can develop, given the situation around the country. This is what I urge you to do," the head of state summarized.
“The prime minister and the finance minister treat it carelessly. This is why I have not signed this investment program right now. I believe we should take a closer look at it and deal with it wisely," the president stated.
Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized the importance of focusing financing on projects and industries that can give a quick profit. He cited agriculture, in particular, milk production, as an example. "If we have no problems with selling milk and dairy products, perhaps we should build dairy shops and farms to sell this milk?" the president suggested.
"We need to delve deeper into this issue. We need to consider how we can get revenues, how we can develop, given the situation around the country. This is what I urge you to do," the head of state summarized.
Follow us on:
