MINSK, 31 January (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko intends to get familiar with the operation of major Belarusian companies amid sanctions. The head of state mentioned the plans as he met with Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko and the top managers of Belaruskali and Belarusian Potash Company on 31 January, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “The sanction policy of the West is the core of our conversation today. Certain time has passed and I've warned everyone that it is up to the government to take care of counteraction of this entire sanction policy. Nevertheless, the president still has to oversee things.”
The head of state remarked that the relevant matters – work amid sanctions – had been discussed as Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) Pavel Kallaur and Aide to the President for the Development of the Financial and Credit System Valery Belsky had delivered their report earlier on that day. “Credit where credit is due but they did mostly fine. They properly do their jobs. Later on I'd like to find out how our major companies deal with the sanctions, including Belarusian Potash Company and Belaruskali. And then Belavia. They still face pressure and the reason is known now after the report of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Then there is the petrochemical industry of ours,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“I'd like specialists and ministers to be ready to inform the president about work in this complicated period of sanctions,” Aleksandr Lukashenko told Roman Golovchenko.
The president stated that many companies had been able to find good alternatives judging by last year. “Belaruskali did well, too. Nevertheless, we have to look forward,” he said.
“This is why after reviewing how the banking system works amid the sanctions, I'd like to hear how our enterprises work in this period and how we work to find alternative ways of delivering our chemical and potash fertilizers while bypassing, let's say, traditional ports. It is the essence of our conversation. Later on I'd ask Belavia and other companies together with the government to be ready to report how they are working,” Aleksandr Lukashenko concluded.
