News & Events in Belarus

KHOINIKI DISTRICT, 26 April (BelTA) – Belarus will build up the manufacturing base of the areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster. The statement was made by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko during the working trip to Gomel Oblast on 26 April, BelTA has learned.

The head of state remarked that in their time they focused on developing the social sphere. “I’ve been always thinking whether we made a mistake by allowing this misbalance, by developing and supporting the social basis – education, healthcare, culture, people’s life. Did we make an error?” said the President.

Alexander Lukashenko believes that the decision to develop district capitals was the right one. “I indeed paid much attention to it because I understood that we had to somehow show people that we are going to live here. And people can accept only so much talk. And we cannot encourage people to settle down in the region because people are afraid, the process is politicized,” reminded the head of state. In his words, this experience has been transferred from Gomel Oblast to other areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster. “We’ve taken care of the villages, the infrastructure, started offering gas service, building roads and homes, helping young families and young specialists. So we’ve invested a lot in the social sphere. And the manufacturing sphere has fallen behind to some extent. But I don’t regret our doing it now. It had to be done anyway,” said the President.

Alexander Lukashenko remarked the process to set up enterprises in these lands had begun already starting with agriculture, woodworking, and ending with the modernization of existing enterprises. The head of state added he wishes the process would go faster.

“This is why we prioritized social development. The entire country helped build agro-towns and district capitals here. We sent people here, paid them, pay them, and will pay them slightly more if we have to. It is necessary to build up manufacturing now,” said the President.

Alexander Lukashenko underlined that residents of the region have to make up their mind about what manufacturing projects exactly they will build up, which ones will be most effective in conditions of specific regions. Alexander Lukashenko once again reminded about his instruction to start manufacturing projects reliant on locally available raw materials. “If small support is needed, then certainly we will support the enterprises, which are important for the state,” remarked the head of state.