Alexander Lukashenko instructs Prime Minister to step up import substitution

16 октября 2018

Improving the welfare of the population, the development of import substitution and fight against intermediaries were the key topics discussed today at the Palace of Independence. The head of state received a report from the country's Prime Minister. The main objective of the government is the implementation of the socio-economic development program adopted at the 5th All-Belarusian National Assembly. It will become the foundation of the new document - the program of government activities for the next 2 years. Of course, the priority task is to increase the income of the population. Here, both the President and the government team have common goals. The order is to increase pensions by 5% from November, and next year their amount should be at least 40% of the average salary in the country. The implementation of the task will be one of the key indicators in the work of the government.

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According to the IMF in 2018, the gross domestic product of Belarus will grow to 4%, the inflation rate is 5.5%. The fund believes that such a dynamic of the economic situation in Belarus will continue in the medium term.

The main difference of the plan presented by the new Cabinet is the specific numbers of goals and personal responsibility of each minister for each of them. It is noteworthy that one of the first decisions agreed upon by the President and the new ministerial team was the increase in salaries for state employees. This is the standard of living of hundreds of thousands of people - doctors, teachers, those who bring up children, care for the elderly, teach at universities, are engaged in culture and science.

This year alone, labor pensions increased twice - by 5.5% in May and by 10% in August. Social and minimum pensions, increased allowances and additional payments to pensions were recalculated. Following the results of 9 months, the President instructed to consider another increase in labor pensions to 5.3% from November 1.

The main task for the new government is to ensure this growth by increasing the efficiency of the economy. Alexander Lukashenko orders the Prime Minister to take control of the development of import substitution and mediation in trade.