Business news

MINSK, 21 April (BelTA) – Excessive inspections that paralyze the operation of private companies must be phased out. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the relevant statement in his address to the nation and the parliament on 21 April, BelTA has learned.

Alexander Lukashenko remarked: “It is necessary to take a serious look at the operation of control agencies. We don’t need excessive audits that paralyze the operation of private companies. You don’t have to audit all the time the companies that work just fine. But you should always keep an eye on companies with a bad track record. Watch them even more closely than you do now.”

Alexander Lukashenko reminded that the State Control Committee has all the authority it needs. “If you get reports that someone acts outside the law, don’t ask anything, don’t wait for a lot of facts to pile up. If the law has been broken, arrest the person responsible,” said the president.

In his words, honest business practices should keep away state inspectors from private companies. “If state inspectors do come knocking, we will look into it very closely. State inspectors should not bother the enterprises run by bona fide executives. You don’t need any special decrees to make it happen. Honest work through and through should suffice.”

Galvanizing the business initiative is one of the most important tasks. Alexander Lukashenko stated that today Belarusian companies are having a hard time competing on the market. There are a number of objective reasons starting with heavy market regulations and ending with personal qualities of the businesspersons themselves. “I’ve said many times already that not everyone is fit to be a businessmen. In Belarus many people dream about making a successful career in private business from an early age. The world practice indicates that only a handful of people are cut out to be businessmen. This is why if you think about a business career, you should think first about whether you have the skills and desire for it. Running a private business is a complicated thing and not many Belarusians have the skills for it. And rich people don’t get a lot of love,” explained the president.

Alexander Lukashenko stated that there are indeed a large number of administrative barriers in Belarus. “They stall the development of any business initiative and even nip them in the bud. I am told that a potential business owner needs to go through about 12 administrative procedures in order to open a small cafe. The procedures take about six months at best. The businessman could spend this time earning money and creating jobs for other people. The state of affairs in the civil engineering industry leaves much to be desired, too. In order to get a permit for a construction project from municipal authorities, commercial entities have to wait for 1.5 years or more. Is it the way we are fighting bureaucracy and red tape?!” wondered the president. Alexander Lukashenko addressed Head of the Belarus President Administration Natalya Kochanova: “You are responsible for these matters. The president’s directive concerning these matters still stands.”