MINSK DISTRICT, 23 March (BelTA) – Belarusian leather industry should use domestic raw materials, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out during his visit to the Minsk Leather Production Association on 23 March, BelTA has learned.
One of the problems of the Belarusian leather industry is a substantial share of import of raw materials. Leather goods manufacturers do not favor Belarusian leather. Only about 80 enterprises use domestic raw materials.
“I suggest all leather goods manufacturers convene for a meeting in the government, set up an ‘association'. Their task is to make this enterprise [the Gatovo tannery] do what they need. In the course of a year they should switch to Belarusian raw materials,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
He also recalled the requirement to get rid of intermediaries and his strict approaches to this issue.
Apart from leather goods manufacturers, the association might also comprise meat packing plants (supplies of leather) and tanneries, Aleksandr Lukashenko proposed. According to him, this will help draw up a single policy on the leather industry development and reduce imports.
