OREANDA-NEWS. March 29, 2012. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko met with Chairman of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee Boris Batura and Chairman of Minsk City Hall Nikolai Ladutko.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, the main purpose of the meeting was to discuss problems in regions of the country. The head of state reminded that he had received similar reports from the heads of the Vitebsk Oblast and Gomel Oblast administrations and the practice will continue.
As far as Minsk and the oblast are concerned, they have a special status. Their contribution to the national economy and the nation’s life is enormous. “Special status entails special responsibility. Belarus’ development depends on these two regions,” the President said.

The head of state said that Minsk Oblast has nothing to boast about. This year’s industrial output has placed the oblast at the fifth position, with the agricultural output at the fourth position. Minsk Oblast is a leader in the finished goods stock. “Net losses of corporations have nearly tripled. It means outstanding debts of enterprises to the state budget and banks. It is not the complete list of problems relating to social and economic development of Minsk Oblast,” Alexander Lukashenko believes.

In his words, not everything is fine in Minsk proper. Even last year the finished goods stock of industrial enterprises in Minsk increased, the number of loss-making enterprises grew.

“Mass media have pointed out that in some places in Minsk asphalt has melted faster than snow. Low investment activity and unsatisfactory cooperation with foreign investors are the key problems of the city. Even after our principled discussion red-taping practices are abundant in the operation of the Minsk City Executive Committee,” the head of state said.

The President pointed out that in Minsk capital investments per employee are the lowest while the share of foreign sources in the total investments is second worst after Brest Oblast. “Something has to be seriously changed here,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

Alexander Lukashenko reminded that Minsk will host the IIHF world Championship in 2014. “We should prepare for the sports event properly,” the President stressed.

The head of state also touched upon the creation of the Chinese-Belarusian industrial park. Alexander Lukashenko believes there is too much talk and speculations about it.

“We should not hide something from common people and should not infringe their rights. We have enough space to develop this industrial park. I know you would love to have such a powerful corporation in Minsk Oblast but you should plainly explain the situation to the people. If there are some issues, they have to be dealt with. I underline it once again we have all the necessary things for it,” Alexander Lukashenko told Minsk Oblast governor Boris Batura.

Alexander Lukashenko also spoke about preparations for the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

“Just like representatives of previous oblasts you should be concerned that we have about half a year to go till the next parliamentary elections. We should take serious decisions in order to properly prepare for these parliamentary elections so that we do not feel shame before the people,” the head of state said.