MINSK, 4 August (BelTA) – The quality of business in Belarus is much higher than in other post-Soviet countries, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he delivered his annual address to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly on 4 August, BelTA has learned.
“We have always supported the business that is willing to work honestly for the benefit of the country and the people and will continue to support it. I once analyzed and noticed one feature. The quality of business in our country is much higher than in other post-Soviet countries. Belarusian businessmen started from scratch, not with privatization. They have achieved success only thanks to their wits, will and hard work. I have always respected such people. Private business has grown stronger and will remain a factor of growth for Belarus,” the head of state stressed.
“There are plenty of jobs in the country. The structure of the Belarusian economy combines many industries. On the one hand, we got a lot of manufactures dependent on import of raw materials and components. On the other hand this is a huge opportunity for the development,” Aleksandr Lukashenko believes.
The president said that the Belarusian industry imports components for more than $4 billion a year. “The niche for import substitution is huge. You can set up small companies, produce these components for $4 billion. In the world joint work or cooperation with industrial giants is the biggest dream of any small or medium-sized enterprise. Everyone is fighting for guaranteed orders and the opportunity to become part of the conveyor chain,” the Belarusian leader stressed. "Therefore, there is no complaining about the small capacity of the domestic market. Producing component parts for such plants as BelGee, MTZ, BelAZ will have a huge impact on business,” the president noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also expressed the opinion that “there is still potential for setting up clusters in woodworking, where there are not enough furniture and paper manufactures, in light industry (leather and flax), production of innovative building materials and in pharmaceuticals.”
