MINSK, 15 January (BelTA) – The state investment program for the year 2025 must contain nothing superfluous. All the suggested costs should be formed in an optimal manner. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the relevant statement as he heard out a thorough report on the matter, BelTA has learned.
The head of state had rejected the initial document. He convened an expanded-participation meeting in order to discuss fundamental matters thoroughly together with heads of regional authorities, oversight agencies, and other parties.
Economy Minister Yuri Chebotar noted that the state investment program is the country’s main financial document for implementing the most important civil engineering projects using money of the central state budget. As much as Br2.2 billion is supposed to be channeled into implementing the program this year.
Right away Aleksandr Lukashenko wondered how the document had changed after his instruction to perform an additional analysis and remove all the superfluous things. Especially since the draft program had been “filtered” by the Belarus President Administration. “Nothing harmful should be placed on the president’s desk if vetted by the presidential administration,” he stressed.
Using a number of concrete examples, the president emphasized that economic mismanagement and needless spending are not an option. “Small things all over the country add up to billions,” he remarked. “You kick open the door of [Finance Minister Yuri] Seliverstov and he gives you these billions. To repay loans and something else. How about a frugal approach?”
According to Economy Minister Yuri Chebotar, the state investment program can be separated into two parts. The first one is initiatives. Those include land amelioration, the construction of rented housing, and other things. “Over Br900 million has been earmarked for it. There are plans to ameliorate 110,000 hectares of land in 2025. Some of the money has been set aside by the state investment program. At least 145,000m2 of rented housing will be built in all regions for medics, teachers, specialists with hard-to-fill occupations. About 100km of forestry roads will be built,” the economy minister listed the articles of expenditure the document stipulates.
Another chapter deals with repaying the loans previously granted for important civil engineering projects that have already been completed. For instance, money was allocated to build halls of residence of higher education institutions, a surgery wing in Semashko Street in Minsk, an aircraft repair plant at the Minsk National Airport.
However, Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the efficiency of spending. For instance, a lot was invested in land amelioration in 2024. “And now you will have to report to me that you have checked that these hectares have been commissioned and are in use today,” the head of state identified an important aspect of the matter. “There is another problem. Money has been invested. If you don’t make buses [that can be counted one by one], who will know whether you get returns or not?”
The president also had questions concerning the repayment of the loans. “Vasily Nikolayevich [Gerasimov, Chairman of the State Control Committee], you need to clearly understand and know the state of affairs in this area. And not theoretically. But as numbers,” the Belarusian leader noted.
Yuri Chebotar continued his report. He remarked that the second part of the investment program deals with concrete facilities. There are more than 80 of them and they are estimated at Br1.1 billion. The number includes 22 republican bridges and roads worth Br606 million.
“As for roads and bridges. Once again [Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly] Sivak made calculations… It would be good if Sivak made them. The agency calculated the cost of bridges and roads and you’ve promptly added them to the program. Nobody cares. Neither you nor Gerasimov,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.
He explained what he was referring to. For instance, even along the roads he drives the president has repeatedly drawn attention and has given instructions concerning the excessiveness of roadside equipment. Namely the installation of sound barriers. These structures are genuinely needed in some places but in some other places they protect forests. This money is wasted. Moreover, Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled his instructions to plant trees and vegetation along roads. They help reduce unnecessary noise and represent a way more environmentally friendlier solution than sound barriers.
The state investment program also provides for building social facilities. For instance, there are plans to finish a district hospital in Postavy, an infectious diseases hospital in Vitebsk, a school and a clinic in Ostrovets. The construction of the republican applied science center for children’s oncology in Borovlyany and the republican applied science center Mother and Child in Minsk will continue. Projects with an economic effect and able to ensure the development of the manufacturing sector will be realized.
Using healthcare institutions as an example, the president suggested thinking about where money truly needs to be spent and what projects should be prioritized. Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that as far as healthcare is concerned, there are bottlenecks primarily in the regions. Such as the operation of rural health posts and queues in clinics.
“Should we channel this money over there? Starting with wages and the rest. That’s the question. That’s the problem: we need to count every kopeck. I am not saying we don’t need hospitals. Our people struggle with oncological problems and cardiovascular diseases. Let’s invest money there in order to save people. Instead of building reinforced-concrete ‘palaces’, we could allocate more money,” the head of state said. “COVID, flu, and all kinds of diseases are now present in Belarus. Where do we get vaccines? In Russia. Why don’t we make our own? If money is needed, let’s invest in it and demand results.”
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