OREANDA-NEWS. January 23, 2013. Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko has challenged the government to keep up the pace of improving economic indicators and sustain production upgrade. Lukashenko made a statement to this effect as he received Prime-Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich.

Lukashenko said with reference to statistical reports that Belarus’ economy had made certain progress. The president admitted though that there are negative trends in Belarus’ economy, which need the government’s attention. Lukashenko attributes those trends to the decline of the EU economy – one of the major export destinations of Belarus.

The meeting with prime-minister focused on a large-scale upgrade of the manufacturing sector.

Alexander Lukashenko demanded that the modernization funds should be spent wisely, because the modernization will extend mostly to state-run companies.