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Lukashenko to exporters: Don’t rely on chance, master salesmanship
MINSK, 18 December (BelTA) – To succeed in foreign trade, it is important to master the art of sales and not depend on good luck, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in his Address to the Belarusian People and Parliament during the second session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress, BelTA has learned.
The head of state emphasized that effective sales are essential for successful foreign trade.
In this regard, Aleksandr Lukashenko referenced his recent big tour, which included visits to Algeria, Oman, and Myanmar. According to the president, the trip reaffirmed his view that Belarusians have yet to master the skill of selling. This puts them in contrast to many residents of the Middle East, for example, who have long-standing commercial traditions. Indeed, during negotiations with the Sultan of Oman, the head of state even had to request assistance in teaching Belarusians to trade effectively: “We will manufacture, we will deliver. But let us establish a joint venture and trade together in your traditional markets.”
The president observed critically that some producers, having manufactured their goods, fail to promote them in the market and are content to, as he put it figuratively, “toss them over the fence, selling at whatever price they can get, and then just sit and wait.”
“We produce good products, yet they either remain unknown in distant markets, or crowds of intermediaries profit from them, skimming the cream and pocketing the gains,” the head of state stressed. “It’s time to recognize that salesmanship is an art. You cannot rely on luck or chance. What is needed is a well-considered strategy, a clear plan, and reliable logistics.”
The president reminded officials assigned abroad that the era of tourism is over. The Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs now maintain a database of specific economic and investment tasks for every country.
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