MINSK, 13 October (BelTA) – During personnel appointments, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko directed officials to address problems in Belarus’ light industry, BelTA has learned.
The president approved the appointment of Nadezhda Lazarevich as the new Chairperson of the Belarusian State Light Industry Concern (Bellegprom). She was previously First Deputy Minsk Mayor. The former head of Bellegprom, Tatiana Lugina, has been reassigned to lead the light industry enterprise Kamvol.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that both the Belarus President Administration and the government reported that the concern is facing difficulties. “This is due to various reasons. And while I’m generally cautious of such information, in this case I believe the situation is truly complicated,” he stated.
"“I have great respect for women, but the position you are taking on is exceptionally demanding. Let me be perfectly clear, however: this is your final chance [addressing Tatiana Lugina]. If you cannot deliver, the conversation is over. You have the competence and experience. Now, we need results, not just words,” the head of state said.
“My message is clear: seize this opportunity to forge your future, or consider this our final exchange. The revitalization of this industry is critical; it’s about people’s livelihoods. We have a duty to feed and clothe them, and we will not let this industry fail.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko described Kamvol as a cornerstone of the domestic light industry. “Tatiana Alekseyevna [Lugina], you were among those people who suggested merging the broadcloth and worsted fabric productions, creating a major enterprise. This is one of key areas of work for our entire concern,” he said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko named the leather and linen industries, Baranovichi Cotton Production Association, and the footwear industry other fundamental elements of Bellegprom.
“I visited Kamvol, and we did more than just inspect, we provided substantial support to rescue the enterprise from near-collapse. It was on the brink and required a significant investment. I also visited the tannery in Gatovo multiple times. While we had established a plan of action, [Belarusian Prime Minister Aleksandr] Turchin reported yesterday that the results are not yet satisfactory. We will revisit the situation there in the near future. After considerable effort and investment, Baranovichi Cotton Production Association is now operational. Finally, this autumn we will conduct our regular review of flax production and the linen fabric operations in Orsha, as well as assess the agricultural sector’s performance in flax cultivation,” he emphasized.
He also warned against neglecting footwear production, as it has always been a hallmark of Belarus.
Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized the robust demand for Belarusian light industry products, particularly in Russia, Belarus’ key market. “I was curious about customers’ perception of Belarusian goods. It turns out that when they see a Belarusian product, they don’t even look at the price. So why aren’t we selling more? Everyone gets upset about companies from other countries. That is what they call competition. We will have to deal with it. However, we should not go into extremes. The domestic market must be protected, and the government needs to devise a strategy. We talk about this extensively, but we have accomplished little,” the president said.
“Nevertheless, we can successfully sell our products, especially in Russia, and not only there. Our products are competitive in both price and quality, though in some cases, quality must be improved. You will have the authority to address this on the ground,” the president told Nadezhda Lazarevich.
He reiterated, “I will say it again: Russians are eager to buy our goods. Just yesterday I told Turchin: when we announce a fair, we open in the morning and are sold out by evening. People buy everything with pleasure. The clear conclusion is that we must supply more goods to these fairs,” he added.
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