Lukashenko to host government meeting on price setting in Belarus

MINSK, 10 February (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko is set to hold a government meeting to discuss price formation in Belarus on 10 February, BelTA has learned.

Last autumn the president set tough instructions to the government and local authorities in pricing. “I have to intervene in the situation. It is already obvious that the government, trade unions, regional executive committees and the Minsk City Council, MPs, and the State Control Committee cannot cope with the overwhelming price growth,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the government meeting to discuss economic issues on 6 October 2022.

“It is fairly understandable why imported products became more expensive. However, what is the reason for the continuous growth in prices for domestic products made from domestic raw materials,” the president asked. “Prices for raw materials did not rise, prices for fuel (oil, gas, etc.) and other things that would always be a great concern for us did not rise either,” the president noted.

The head of state also mentioned some businessmen: “First, they raised the prices because of the increased exchange rate, and when our currency strengthened, they ‘forgot' for some reason to lower the prices.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko signed Directive No. 10, according to which a moratorium on price growth was introduced until the government worked out measures to regulate prices. On 19 October, Council of Ministers Decree No.713 “On the price regulation system” came into force.

Later on Aleksandr Lukashenko repeatedly returned to the topic of pricing during various events involving members of the government.