MINSK, 12 March (BelTA) – Nobody is against sensible intermediaries in Belarus but there are fly-by-night operators that need to be stopped. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during the government conference held on 12 March to discuss measures to rule out unjustified and unscrupulous intermediation, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “In this state nobody minds sensible intermediaries where they are objectively necessary. But a small number of areas will be left under the oversight of either oblast governors or ministers and the prime minister.” At the same time there are some people in the country, who think only about their own profits in a complicated situation, the president added.
He remarked that sometimes supply chains include three or even five intermediaries, which often exist only on paper. Sometimes foreigners are employed to circumvent the prohibitions on price markups stipulated by the national legislation.
“As a result, ordinary consumers have to pay for all the markups lining the pockets of these fly-by-night operators. It is scandalous and there are plenty of examples,” the head of state pointed out. He mentioned one of the facts: a cardan shaft that costs Br140 went through several intermediaries and was sold to the end consumer for Br935. “The price went up by more than 6.5 times!” Aleksandr Lukashenko was indignant.
“While the legislation on public procurement seems to be observed (suppliers are chosen via tenders), equipment is acquired with preposterous surcharges in the manufacturing sector, healthcare, education, housing and utilities, and IT services for the public sector. And, as a rule, bribes are involved everywhere,” the president identified the problematic aspects.
For instance, in 2023-2025 the money spent by RUP National Center for Electronic Services and OOO Belarusian Cloud Technologies on markups of intermediaries, which could be as high as 200%, totaled about Br10 million.
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