Briefing session on prospects of leather industry in Belarus held in Gatovo

23 марта 2021
Producers of leather goods will be united into an association, and the biggest processor in the country will receive support. Such instructions were given today by the President, as he was visiting the tannery in Gatovo. This sector is strategic for the Belarusian economy. It can and must be very profitable. There are all the necessary conditions for it. 

It turns out that in the country, where there is enough raw material, shoe manufacturers use imported leather. And every year these costs are approaching a quarter of a billion dollars. They import leather mostly from Russia and Turkey.  The Belarusian leather is good in its own way. But it is not suitable for all footwear. We need new solutions, said Alexander Lukashenko.

The President: privatization of the tannery is out of the question

"There can be no privatization of this enterprise. Processing of raw tanneries is a strategic sector of our country and this sector should be given appropriate attention in the economy. We can't give all the raw materials to one person, no matter how good he is."

The state will financially support the tannery

The production in Gatovo was planned to be sold to Belwest. The issue seems to be closed. Alexander Lukashenko suggests solving the most urgent debt problems of the plant in the first place. The President also instructed to solve personnel problems at the factory in Gatovo.

So, the major decisions have been made today. The executives have been given a year to solve all the problems. The President will check it out.