Events

Belkoopsoyuz criticized for poor performance

VILEIKA DISTRICT, 7 August (BelTA) – I want Belkoopsoyuz to answer two eternal questions and establish effective operation of the consumer cooperation system, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a meeting on providing rural communities with a full and diverse range of goods to cover all their needs, BelTA has learned.

The president noted that the work of Belkoopsoyuz remains inefficient, and the government and consumer cooperation leadership have so far failed to turn the situation around for the better.

Yet Belkoopsoyuz is the largest player in the rural goods and services market, and to some extent also an organizer and regulator of rural trade, the head of state noted. “Together with the chairman of a district executive committee, under the supervision of the oblast executive committee, they should be monitoring the populated areas in a district and regulating the routes of mobile shops and stationary retail points," the president said.

He drew attention to the fact that over the past year, the number of stores in rural areas decreased by 314 facilities, and the number of mobile shops fell by 13.
The retail trade organizations of Belkoopsoyuz continue to operate at a loss. In the first half of this year, the net loss amounted to Br16.4 million, an 11-fold increase from the same period in 2025. “If this is true, it’s appalling,” the president said.

At the same time, consumer cooperation organizations are heavily indebted (as of 1 July 2026, overdue accounts payable amounted to Br86 million, or 15% of total accounts payable).

In January-June of this year the production of soft drinks was 54% compared to the same period of last year, that of fermented beverages - 60% mineral water - 46% for, bread - 92%, and meat products - 91%.

“But the most alarming thing is that soon you simply won’t have anyone left to work,” the president noted, highlighting the staffing shortage in the organization.

The president asked Chairperson of the Belkoopsoyuz Board Inessa Korotkevich two classic questions: “who is to blame and what is to be done.”

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