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Lukashenko: Construction should significantly contribute to Belarus’ development

MINSK, 23 July (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko is orienting the country’s construction sector toward a meaningful contribution to Belarus’ future development. He made this statement while appointing Vadim Olshevsky as Minister of Architecture and Construction, BelTA has learned.

“I would like the [architecture and construction] ministry to work thoroughly and take its rightful place within the system of government bodies in Belarus. You must see and control everything that happens in construction. All the more so since you come from the region [Vadim Olshevsky, as Deputy Chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee, oversaw construction, transport, and housing and utilities], you know the system. I am counting on you very much. Because when there is construction, the country develops. If we aren’t building anything, what kind of development is that? We can talk as much as we want, but there will be no development. The main way we can add value in the country is through construction. If it exists, it means the country is alive.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he personally has a mixed impression regarding the construction sector: “We know how to build anything, we can do everything, but somewhere we leave things unfinished or fall short.”

When making the appointment, the head of state also drew attention to the issue of exporting construction services. “We produce construction materials, we know how to build. Therefore, to the extent possible, construction services should be exported, but not at the expense of Belarus,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that sometimes construction sites inside Belarus lack workers. Therefore, the issue of sending builders abroad must be approached carefully. “But we must try. We need to provide certain engineering services, send specialists,” he said.

For example, when implementing various construction projects in Russia, where there are already successful examples, different formats of Belarusian participation can be considered. “We can build ourselves, or together with local builders, or they can build under our supervision. Decide for yourselves what works best, based on the availability of labor resources here in Belarus,” the head of state advised.

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