Gerasimov: BNBC must stop ceding domestic market to competitors

MINSK, 12 April (BelTA) - The Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation (BNBC) needs to be more active in the domestic market, Chairman of the State Control Committee Vasily Gerasimov told Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA has learned.

“There are objective factors and there are subjective ones. Of course, the external market has seen a drop in prices. That has led to some problems. That’s one side of the coin. The other side is subjective. Namely, we are not focusing on our own domestic market. We are ceding it to others, even though our products are no worse, in fact, sometimes better, than those of others, and they are absolutely competitive in terms of price,” Vasily Gerasimov emphasized.

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko convened a meeting on 7 April to discuss the development of the Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation. The head of state recalled that when BNBC was launched in November 2022, the discussion centered on the enormous potential of this scientific and industrial cluster.

“It was planned that premium compound feeds, premixes, vitamins, and amino acids would not only elevate the domestic agricultural sector to a new level but also become a substantial export item, bringing foreign currency into the country,” the president said.

However, to date, the BNBC has not achieved full capacity utilization at its biochemical and compound feed production facilities. The target indicators of the production program have not been met, and there remains an acute shortage of working capital.

Aleksandr Lukashenko outlined his fundamental position: Belarus urgently needs a biotechnology sector. “This is the path taken by all technologically developed countries. We cannot afford to fall behind. Therefore, in addition to principled and objective assessments of the current situation, I expect concrete proposals for the development prospects of the BNBC in the coming years,” he emphasized.

Screenshot from Belarus 1 TV channel video