MINSK, 19 June (BelTA) – The operation of enterprises and how banks support them with loans were mentioned during the government conference hosted by Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 19 June, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Most of all, I am concerned about the operation of enterprises and their credit support on the part of banks, particularly support for large, systemic organizations that employ a lot of people and that have been affected by the coronavirus.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko wondered how exporters had been doing, how commitments and work with foreign currency proceeds had been going on. In March, April, and May certain enterprises complained that banks reduced relending terms (once a loan is repaid, the enterprise was unable to borrow even as much as the previous loan). “I don't know how things are but I can presume looking at these bourgeois in Belgazprombank. You may not have seen it but they moved millions out of the country and now nobody can explain who, where, and why transferred the money. Law enforcers have already found out where. You didn't see it. But you cannot help enterprises to get new loans because you have your own standards to maintain,” Aleksandr Lukashenko told Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) Pavel Kallaur.
Besides, the president continued, terms of new loans are getting worse – the interest rates are being raised. Excessive requirements are set, banks are reluctant to restructure old debts, even as a temporary respite till the end of the year. “They are probably afraid of losing their hefty bonuses. Once again I warn you, Pavel Vladimirovich [Kallaur]: forget about your bonuses. Not you personally but the commercial banks I've told you to keep an eye on should forget about them. No bonuses. There are no poor people there. Particularly this year,” the Belarusian leader pointed out.
