The entire system of government bodies should do its best to ensure sustainable balanced economic development with a growth rate above the world average, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting to discuss the new composition of the government, BelTA has learned.
The head of state described the government as the economic headquarters and a crucial decision-making center. “It is essential to find formats and instruments which will help the entire system of government bodies reach the main goal – to ensure sustainable balanced economic development with a growth rate above the world average. There are no other options. No one should stand aside from this work, everybody should clearly realize their role in the process,” the president emphasized.
He remarked that Belarus has an open economy. However, it is necessary to take measures for the protection of the local market. “Our domestic market is not big, but we must protect it. This is number one priority for the government, and the previous government did not resolve the issue,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
However, economic growth should not rely only on the domestic market. Export and external demand are also very important. “There will be no foreign currency without export. We need to finally handle the issue of dependence from the market of one country. We cannot even depend by 50-55% on brotherly Russia,” the president said. He recalled that some time ago it was decided to promote the development of export to neighboring and distant countries, to look for new markets. Serious progress is needed here.
